Your spouse jokes a lot about their “work wife” or “work husband,” and you’ve never seen any reason to worry – but maybe you should.
The concept of a work spouse has become part of the office lingo in many industries. It generally describes a coworker with whom someone shares a deep – but platonic – relationship. They’re each other’s “go-to” for advice, support and a sense of camaraderie during the week.
Unfortunately, these relationships can easily turn into affairs, leading to both emotional and physical infidelity.
Some of the statistics are alarming
Think “nothing could happen” between your spouse and their work wife or work husband? Consider these facts:
- 58% of people admit to having had at least one “office romance,” and 22% of those involved cheated on a partner when they did.
- 34% of people admit that they’ve had a “one-night stand” with a co-worker at work functions, and at least 18% were able to keep the affair secret.
- About 40% of people admit that they’ve actively dated a co-worker, and 15% of those romances turned into marriages.
- 28% of workers say that they actively consider the workplace to be a good place to look for romance.
So, should you be concerned that your spouse has an obvious emotional bond with a co-worker? Probably. Even if your spouse hasn’t considered the possibility of an actual romance with their work spouse, their work spouse may have other ideas.
The primary reason that “work spouse” relationships can become a hazard to a marriage is that there is so much emotional intimacy being shared between the affected co-workers. Since they may actually spend more time together at work during the week than they get with their actual spouses, that emotional bond can become very strong. That can easily lead to romantic feelings.
If your spouse is having an affair with a co-worker or you suspect they may be, it’s important to understand your rights. While divorce may not be your first instinct, understanding your options is key to a stable future.