All Work and Then Play? Survey Suggests Office Romances Most Often Lead to Marriage

Relationships which begin in the workplace are more likely to lead to marriage than those which start elsewhere, new research has revealed. A study found despite many companies now discouraging inter-colleague liaisons, the chances are couples who get together after an office romance will end up together.

The trend emerged following a detailed study of 2,000 adults which also found the stresses and strains of work and the sheer number of hours we spend with colleagues to be key factors.

Meeting through friends is also like to lead to marriage, the figures show.

But it also emerged that a nightclub or pub meeting is most likely to result in nothing more than a one night stand.

A spokesman for the survey, commissioned to mark the season eight DVD release of How I Met Your Mother, said:

''You might not think where you meet can affect how long a relationship lasts but it seems those who meet through work can expect more longevity than most.

''We spend so much time at work that it's inevitable that you will form close friendships that may go onto become a relationship further down the line.

''But being in a relationship where you work in the same place as your partner also means you have something in common before you even get to know each other, and being in the same career means you are both like-minded and have similar interests.

''And while other couples may struggle to talk to their other-half about work when they get home at the end of a long day because they don't understand or simply aren't interested, you're not going to have that problem if you marry a work colleague.

''Meeting through friends - something How I Met Your Mother's Barney and Robin can relate to in the show - also seems to be a sign that the relationship is destined for marriage.''

The study, of 2,000 adults, found that 14% of couples who met through work ended up married, followed by 11% who were introduced by friends.

Almost one in ten of those who got together after a holiday romance also ended up walking down the aisle.

But while relationships which started in work have a good shot at success, a pub meeting is most likely to result in a one night stand, with 23% admitting this had been the case for them.

Another 22% of couples who met in a nightclub didn't get any further than the first night, along with 13% of holiday romances.

Couples who are introduced at a party are also among those who will struggle to get past a one night stand.

Researchers also found that 51% of people think the place or situation where you meet someone can affect how successful the relationship is.

And almost one in five have even refused to pursue a relationship with someone because they worry the way they met means it is doomed before it starts.

One in five also admitted to lying about how they met their other half, with more than half saying it's because they were too embarrassed by the real story.

37% like to make it sound more interesting than it really was, while 17% get bored of telling the same story over and over.

A romantic one in four of those who are currently in a relationship even say they often return to the place they met for an anniversary or special milestone in their relationship.

Top five meeting places most likely to result in marriage:

1. Through work
2. Through a friend
3. They were already a friend
4. At university
5. Online

Top five places most likely to result in a one night stand:

1. In a pub
2. In a nightclub
3. On holiday
4. At a party
5. Through work