The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

A new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social role, with around one in three employees in Germany saying they have dated a colleague. The research, carried out by YouGov and based on a representative sample of more than 2,000 people, suggests that offices remain important settings for forming friendships, relationships and informal social connections despite the continued growth of hybrid and remote working.

According to the findings, more than 40 percent of respondents said they had flirted with colleagues at work. Men were more likely to report workplace flirting than women, with figures of 47.33 percent and 34.75 percent respectively.

Around 33 percent of people who were in employment said they had been on a date with somebody from their workplace, while just under 29 percent said they had entered into a romantic relationship with a colleague at some point in their career. Nearly 16 percent said they had met a current or former partner through work.

The survey also explored which workplace settings were most likely to encourage informal interaction. Company events and after-work social gatherings were identified by 40.24 percent of respondents as the environments most associated with flirting and personal connections. Break rooms were cited by 27.67 percent, while 24.61 percent pointed to standard workstations and office areas.

Respondents also highlighted the importance of informal workplace settings in encouraging conversation and strengthening relationships between colleagues. Around 35 percent said lounge-style seating areas and corner sofas were particularly suited to social interaction, closely followed by outdoor workspaces and terraces. Shared desks and communal tables were identified by around a quarter of respondents.

More than 65 percent of participants said that informal meeting spaces such as lounges, coffee points and communal areas had a strong or very strong influence on team cohesion and interpersonal relationships.

The findings are being used to inform the theme of ORGATEC 2026, which will take place in Cologne from 27 to 30 October. Organisers say the event will focus on the role of workspace design in supporting communication, collaboration and social interaction.

Under the theme “From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world”, the trade fair will examine how workplaces can be designed to support both organisational performance and human connection. The event will bring together companies, designers, planners and workplace specialists to showcase concepts for flexible and adaptive work environments.