Vault's 2003 Office Romance Survey is based on responses from over 1,000 professionals at companies nationwide. The following are results from the survey.

1) What is your position?

Position	Percentage
Entry-level	29%
Executive	10%
HR Manager	2%
Manager	21%
Mid-level	38%

2) Does your company have an office policy?

Romance Policy	Percentage
Yes	13%
No	51%
I don't know	36%

3) Under which of the following circumstances do you find office romance to be unacceptable?

Unacceptable Office Romances	Percentage
employee dating a boss	21%
Employee dating an intern	11%
Employee dating someone in HR	6%
Employee dating upper management	15%
Manager dating a subordinate	21%
Office romances are always acceptable	11%
Office romances are never acceptable	7%
Same-sex dating	8%

4) Which industry do you believe has the highest rate of office romance?

Industry Perceptions	Percentage
Advertising/Marketing	19%
Consulting	12%
Finance	8%
Law	10%
Media/Entertainment	39%
Other	7%
Technology/Internet	5%

5) Have you ever been involved in an office romance?

	Percentage
Yes	47%
No	34%
No..but I'd be willing if the opportunity arose	19%

6) Have you ever dated your boss or another superior?

	Percentage
Yes	11%
No Way!	58%
No..but I'd be willing	31%

7) If you have dated a superior, who initiated the relationship?

	Percentage
Me	12%
Mutual	57%
My boss/Superior	31%

8) Have you ever dated a subordinate?

	Percentage
Yes	16%
No Way!	54%
No..but I'd be willing	30%

9) If you have dated a subordinate, who initiated the relationship?

	Percentage
Me	25%
Mutual	51%
My subordinate	24%

10) What were the repercussions of your office romance?

	Percentage
I lost credibility and my reputation suffered	5%
It interfered with my work	17%
No repercussions	55%
One or both of us were terminated	3%
We established a long term relationship	19%
We were reprimanded by management	1%

11) What would you do if you found out about an office romance?

	Percentage
Discuss the situation with the parties involved	27%
Monitor to ensure work was not compromised	48%
Nothing	16%
Other	3%
Parties sign consensual relationship agreement	4%
Terminate one or both of the parties involved	2%

12) What methods have led you to discover an office romance?

	Percentage
Caught in the act	11%
Coworker ratted on them	13%
Heard a rumor about it	30%
I've never discovered an office romance	12%
Monitor emails and/or phones	2%
Other	2%
They were open about it	26%
Told by a manager	4%

13) Have you ever had an office tryst?

	Percentage
Yes	20%
No	80%

14) Where have you had an office tryst?

	Percentage
Conference room	22%
boss's office	12%
copy room	7%
on your desk	24%
other	24%
restroom	11%

15) Have you ever been caught in the midst of an office tryst?

	Percentage
Yes	2%
No	98%

16) Was it common knowledge that you were dating a coworker?

	Percentage
I didn't tell anyone, but everyone knew anyway	15%
No one knew	33%
Only a few people knew	34%
We were completely up front about it	18%

When asked to comment about romance in the workplace, here are what some of our respondents said:

• "Office romance is bound to happen. If you have people sharing common interests (work) + extended time together (40 hrs) + physical attraction = a perfect match."

• "Nothing wrong with office romance&it is actually a good thing, because I look forward to going to work to see my crush. I think that the consulting industry has the highest rate of office romance because you're constantly out on the road, and it can get pretty lonely."

• "Where else can you really see what somebody is like on a day-to-day basis? Usually office behavior/personality carries over to the private life. If someone is courteous, understanding, outgoing, etc&. they will be that way in a romantic relationship as well&.You typically spend 8-12 hours at work & it is a very good way to get to know someone."

• "When you work 80 hours per week, it is sometimes hard to meet anyone. You spend all your time in the office."