With the release of 50 Shades Darker this weekend, we thought it would be fun to examine office romances and provide a list of some films to satiate your office hookup appetite. But first, a little information and psychology behind office relationships.
Why do people find office romances so intriguing?
Psychology Today had a great write-up on the psychology behind the office romance. They bring up the intensity of a time pressured partnership working towards a common goal, and how it mirrors the intensity and synergy of sexual relationships.
On average, people spend a large majority of their time working at their office. And when you combine that time with the partnership of work-related tasks, it sets the stage for office romance. The more time they spend together, the more they start viewing themselves from the context of a relationship. I’m not saying every work partnership will turn into a scene from 50 Shades of Grey, but it happens more often than you’d think.
Statistics show that office romances and hookups are more common than ever. Apparently, 40-47% of employees surveyed have been in a workplace romance! Take a look around you, statistically, half your team has been involved “romantically.” Considering the amount of popularity and the implications, I’m surprised office romances haven’t been examined at a greater level by other businesses.
The motives for office hookups range from time, love, companionship, ease of opportunity, sex, and professional motives.
1. Time
9-5PM. That’s a lot of time to spend with someone else, and naturally, you’ll share the intimate details of your life.
2. Love and Companionship
Though time plays a factor here, the more time you spend with someone the more you’ll feel a level of companionship, which is a building block for an office romance.
3. Ease of Opportunity
An office promotes close proximity to coworkers, and when you’re overloaded with work, it can be difficult to maintain a social life outside of your office. The workplace can become the next best thing to a social life that some employees may have.
4. Sex
Office hookups can be just that — hookups. Office relationships can simply be driven by two individuals wanting to cross that boundary for a physical relationship.
5. Professional Motives
The most frowned upon motive for office hookups are for professional motives. Employees desire to move up or get special perks by engaging in a physical or romantic relationship.
Now that you know the brief psychology behind office romances, here’s some of our favorite examples of office romances in film and television.
Best Movies and TV Shows With Office Romances
What Women Want
Mel Gibson before he went super “Mel Gibson” and Helen Hunt star in the romantic comedy about a mind-reading executive who starts a relationship with his boss.
500 Days of Summer
How can you not love JGL? Am I right? While the movie takes a deeper examination of true love and fate, it offers a fun story between the romance between two coworkers and it’s effect on their personal and professional lives.
Anchorman
This movie really functions as a “what not to do” at an office. From the drinking to the office romance, HR managers can show this movie to their staff and just tell them to do the exact opposite of what they see and that should keep everyone in compliance.
Goliath
If you haven’t watched Amazon Prime’s Goliath, starring Billy Bob Thorton, then you’re missing out. This show features an Executive of a legal firm who routinely takes advantage of female employees.
Love Actually
One of the all-time feel-good Christmas Rom-Coms features two office romances, one involving Alan Rickman and his assistant, and other involving Hugh Grant and his assistant.
Suits
Mike Ross and Rachel Zane. One TV couple that shows that the office romance can work out with a happy ending (well sort-of).
Grey’s Anatomy
I don’t even know where to start. Every member of this staff has been romantically involved at some point.
Quantico
With national security a stake, can the country survive a relationship between two agents? Watch and find out.
Bones
Dr.Bones and Agent Boothe, a workplace romance that took years to come together.
That Awkward Moment
Zac Efron has a one night stand and soon finds out that she is the new client at his company. Things get awkward…
Scandal
Not to give too many spoilers, but you’ll want to tune-in to see what happens when the President of the United States has an affair with the White House Director of Communications. Let’s just say things get a little bit… scandalous.
Fringe
Does starting a romantic relationship with your work partner effect your ability to solve paranormal crime? Find out.
Arrow
As a comic book nerd, I had to include at least one show based on the comic book universe. Oliver Queen (aka Green Arrow) is also the owner of a billion dollar company. He has an office romance with employee Felicity Smoak and even one of his partners in vigilante justice in Black Canary.
Parks and Recreation
Who doesn’t love shows about dysfunctional workplaces and office hijinx?
What do you think of our list? Have any other examples you think should be added? Let us know in the comments!