There’s a generation gap when it comes to opinions on office love affairs

Distractions, damaged reputations, sexual harassment accusations. These potential scenarios are some of the reasons why most employers tend to be wary of office romances. However, a new Workplace Options and Public Policy Polling survey of American workers shows that for millennials, workplace relationships are nothing to shy away from. The poll results, released this week by a work- life and employee benefits consulting firm, show that 71 per cent of employed millennials ( aged 18- 29) see a workplace romance as having positive effects such as improved performance and morale. But opinions about inter- office romances differ widely across generations. While 40 per cent of millennials report no negative effects whatsoever from an office romance, only 10 per cent of older workers shared that sentiment, meaning the majority of employed Americans feel more harm could be done than good. The poll results also show that: • 84 per cent of millennials say they would engage in a romance with a co- worker — compared to 36 per cent of Generation X workers ( age 30- 45), and only 29 per cent of Boomers ( age 46- 65). • Overall, 47 per cent of respondents reported that they had observed romantic relationships in the workplace. • And 57 per cent said that if they had a romantic relationship with a colleague, they would share information about it with others — either friends, co- workers or via social networks.