They make lunch "dates," they vent to each other, they bicker, and they travel together. Sound like a typical husband and wife? Well take a look around your business; it could just be part of a growing phenomenon known as the "work spouse."

Human Resource Executive Online recently reported that in a survey of nearly 2,400 U.S. adults, 53 percent of women and 42 percent of men said they have had an "office spouse."

The article describes a work spouse as "a man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, along with an unusual degree of honesty or openness."

Rodney DeVriendt, HR-personal specialist for the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in Minneapolis, told Human Resource Online these types of relationships can stem from having to work longer hours, having more women in the workplace and a growing emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.

The benefits of the "work spouse" are increased morale and productivity, while potential pitfalls are that they can make those outside of said "marriage" feel left out, or that they'll develop into the next step: real romance, which could bring all new problems into the workplace, as reported in a recent issue of E-Brief.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 

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