Emotional affairs in the workplace often start as innocent platonic relationships. For example, two people may become friends and share their thoughts, feelings, and aspirations. As these conversations grow more intimate, a connection may form between the two individuals that go beyond a typical work relationship.
Surprisingly, these full-blown affairs almost never start at a bar or club. Instead, they usually begin in much more wholesome environments: The workplace. The workplace is where most affairs begin.
1. One in five employees cheated on their partner with a colleague. 44% of employees said they know colleagues involved in extramarital affairs in the workplace. What's more, 19% of employees admitted that they had cheated on their significant other with someone from work.
AFFAIR – the one word that no married person or those in a serious relationship ever wants to hear or even think about. However, although it may be a cliché, it is said that around 85% of affairs start in the workplace - with the Christmas party season about to start – it can be a worrying time for many people.
3. Almost one in five employees who were in a committed relationship have had an affair with a colleague. Apparently cheating on a partner with a colleague is relatively common.
Women in their 60s report the highest rate of infidelity (16%), but the share goes down sharply among women in their 70s and 80s. By comparison, the infidelity rate among men in their 70s is the highest (26%), and it remains high among men ages 80 and older (24%).
Cheaters are more likely to start an affair in September than any other month, according to a new survey.
Supporting data from the IFS 1990s survey also says that men have always been more inclined to cheat than women. But during this period, older men have the same tendency to cheat as their younger peers. The survey says that infidelity among men peaked at the age of 50 to 59 (31%).
Prevalence: Extramarital Affairs/Infidelities are common. Most estimates indicate that around 60% of men and 45% of women are willing to report that an affair has occurred sometime in their marriage and it suggests that 70% of all marriages experience an affair.
Globally – the average age of women having affairs is 36.6, while the average age of marriage is 29, making the length of time between marriage and cheating 7.6 years. According to Sigurd Vedal, founder of Victoria Milan, this means that women, on average, seek new lovers between seven and eight years after marriage.
The impact of proximity and shared experiences
One reason why office affairs are so common is the proximity and shared experiences that colleagues have. People tend to become attracted to those who they spend a lot of time with and share common interests and experiences.
Top ten ways women's affairs are exposed:
Texts to their lover uncovered. Friend or acquaintance telling on them. Suspicious spending exposed. Cheating alibi exposed by a partner.
Furthermore, people who cheated on a spouse or partner will often seek to cheat again. On average, affairs usually end within 6 months to 2 years.
Why do people cheat? A wide variety of factors can bring out some type of affair. A study of 495 people revealed eight key reasons: anger, low self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, and circumstance.
Low sexual and relationship satisfaction, high sexual desire, and lack of love are the most robust predictors of infidelity. The gender gap in infidelity appears to be shrinking.
How long extramarital affairs last varies: about 50% may last between the period of one month to a year affair, long term affairs may last long-term, for about 15 months or more, and about 30% of affairs last about two years and beyond.
How Many Couples Stay Together After an Affair? In one study, researchers found that with instances of secret infidelity, only about 20% of couples were still married after 5 years. However, for couples who revealed infidelity, that percentage jumped to 57%.
Statistics on How Many Married Men Cheat
According to the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), about 20% of married men report cheating on their spouses. Men in all age groups from 30 to over 80 are more likely than women to be guilty of infidelity in a marriage.
Research from the past two decades shows that between 20 and 25 percent of married men cheat and between 10 and 15 percent of married women cheat, according to professor Nicholas Wolfinger.
Unfortunately, there are several long-term effects of infidelity that can affect a person long after the cheating has stopped. These can be life-changing, and lead to the development of certain mental health conditions including chronic depression, anxiety, post-infidelity stress disorder, and betrayal trauma.
The physical signs of cheating are the most obvious. This includes spending more time with friends and less with you, avoiding sex, having a random or significantly changed schedule, and changes in their appearance.
Anger or Aggression
Anger and aggression are two other common initial reactions to accusations of cheating. Cheaters often use anger as a form of deflection to turn the situation around and make accusations against you instead, like that you don't trust them enough.