All is fair in love and war, but there’s one work and sex trend that Aussies are only prepared to accept if they have to.

It dawned on me recently that none of my friends have met their partners at work; in fact, I don’t even know anyone who has had a fling with a colleague.

One of my mates pointed out that the idea of dating a co-worker as a Millennial feels straight-up “ewww” and like settling for convenience.

I can’t help but share her sentiments; there’s something about seeing a man heat up tuna in the office microwave that instantly kills romance.

Young people are more likely to swipe left or right online than make eye contact with someone over the office printer. To Gen Z, this is likely seen as a completely undignified mating ceremony reserved for Boomers and Gen X.

So, is the office romance dying out?

Flexible working arrangements and dating apps have created the perfect storm to erode workplace romance.

Market research agency Roy Morgan released extensive data that found a staggering 6.7 million people in Australia work from home, at least part-time.

Roy Morgan interviewed 41,449 employed Australians between July 2024 and June 2025 to uncover just how entrenched flexible working has become.

According to insurance company Choosi, 49 per cent of Aussies are currently using at least one dating app in 2025.

In short, we’re spending less time with our co-workers than ever before, and we have way more romantic choices online.

Does that mean the workplace romance is on the verge of a tragic demise? To find out news.com.au headed down to ask the beautiful people of Bondi.

We interrupted multiple hot girl walks and WFH breaks to ask, “Would you date someone you work with?” and the vibe was much, “I guess … if I had to.”

A woman in a tank top stopped for a yap and said she wasn’t firmly against the idea.

“I want to say no, on principle,” she said.

She then explained that she does not believe it is healthy to have a work/romance crossover, but added that she would be prepared to make an exception … on one condition.

If he is really hot? No.

“If it is true love,” she said.

Fine, but boring.

That theme basically continued; people were prepared to endure the idea of dating a co-worker, under certain circumstances.

One Gen Zer stopped and said she “thinks” it is fine to date a colleague, but if she used the same tone to say she “thinks” that jumper looks good on you, I can assure you that you would never wear it again.

Another lady said it was fine to meet your partner at work, but she made it very clear you can’t keep working together.

“If you find the right person at work, then yeah, but long-term …. I think you need to sort out changing jobs,” she advised.

A couple stopped to chat and admitted that they had actually met because they were working together.

Yeah, one for the workplace romance, right? Wrong.

When I asked if they had started dating at work, the woman looked mortified that I would make such an assumption.

“We never dated while we were working together. I don’t think it is fine to do while you are working,” she said.

Okay Queen!

One man stopped and was having absolutely none of it.

“No,” he said.

“I think it gets messy!”

A young woman stopped to say she had actually met her ex-boyfriend at work, and was okay with dating in the workplace, but then admitted it got weird at work once their relationship ended.

“I had to leave,” she said.

Despite the fact everyone was acting mortified at the idea of dating a co-worker, it is a popular romance trope.

There are subreddits on Reddit where readers seek recommendations for love stories set in the workplace.

It is also a very beloved trope in romantic movies, such as The Proposal, where Sandra Bullock plays a grumpy editor who falls in love with her cute assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds.

Who can forget watching Melanie Griffith’s character falling for Harrison Ford in the iconic movie Working Girl.

Again Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant falling in love in the workplace romance Two Weeks Notice, where she plays a do-gooder lawyer and he plays an out-of-touch but charming billionaire.

Workplace expert Roxanne Calder said she is not convinced that workplace romance is “dying out”, but she noted that it has certainly gone virtual.

“Romantic connection at work isn’t disappearing, it’s different, and it is evolving,” she told news.com.au.

“In a similar way romance has changed from what it was 10 and 15 years ago. The engine that once was proximity, water-cooler chats and after-hours drinks, is now virtual threads, hybrid calendars and coffee catch ups on Team or Zooms.”

Ms Calder argued that the shift to remote work has just changed how relationships are formed, but said this doesn’t mean office romance is disappearing completely.

“I mean, the Coldplay concert that no one will ever forget is a classic example,” she said.

“In a survey from the States, around 86 per cent of employees say remote or hybrid setups actually make it easier to form romantic connections with co-workers.

“I think this is because it can be a little more ‘undercover’. I read in another report that emojis and GIFS actually help facilitate flirting.”

Ms Calder said this has its challenges, though, because lines can be more easily “blurred”; most offices don’t have rules or regulations around flirting over Google Chat.

“Few policies reflect the new reality of DM-flirt, video-hangout chemistry, and hybrid dating logistics,” she warned.

“That means what looked like a harmless office crush in the past can now become a professional hazard or a culture risk. The takeaway for individuals and organisations: recognise the shift, don’t bury your head, wistfully thinking it’s not there.”

Ms Calder said workplaces should be aware that romances are still happening, but just in different ways.

“If you think romance at work has faded, you’re wrong. It hasn’t gone away; it’s just moved into the shadows of your online chats/meetings. Be prepared,” she warned.

“One of the key challenges is that the old informal boundaries have blurred; what used to feel like ’after-hours fun’ now overlaps during hours.

“That creates complexity, not just for the individuals involved but for team dynamics, company culture, and organisational trust.”