Serious Adultery

Adultery in the Workplace – has our attitude to fidelity changed?

Lucy Kellaway a business journalist looks into the world of adultery and the steamy goings on behind the corporate facade of top City institutions.

‘People look better at work’ she says, as she discusses the odd relationships that often ensure after an encounter at the vending machine. ‘There is definitely an element of role-play and posturing. If you are stuck in a rigid structure, the temptation to subvert from the expected norm is overwhelming’.

Kellaway also points to advances in communication which has lead to the rise of the ‘office spouse’ – male colleagues whom women exchange flirty and suggestive texts and emails too. These relationships tend to be open and are regarded as totally innocent, although not so to the real partners of the office spouses. Surveys have also revealed that at least one in four workers have engaged in an office based fling.

Not only are staff flirting with fellow co-workers but the rise in online dating means workers can commit adultery without ever having to leave the desk. Simply log into one of the numerous marital affair dating sites such as Ashley Madison, where you will find thousands of other married men and women looking to play away from home.

Kellway, who is married with four children, believes our attitude to fidelity is mixed and confused. ‘On one hand, we have the near-religious rule of commitment through marriage, where women adopt a one strike and you’re out policy. On the other, our society is so sexualised that when a couple’s sex life dies down for whatever reason, the knee-jerk response is that the marriage must be failing’.  The end result being that they look elsewhere for excitement instead of ironing out the problems at home.

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