Coldplay kiss cam saga: SG survey reveals generational differences on office romances

by K Dorai Raja, Managing Editor, ET

30 July

Singaporeans across generations have differing attitudes towards workplace romances. In an online survey conducted in late July across 500 Singaporeans from age and above, 64% of Gen Zs, 57% of Millennials, 46% of Gen X, and 25% of Baby Boomers opined that such relationships are appropriate, only if disclosed to HR and professional boundaries are respected.

Paradoxically, while younger workers were more open to workplace romances, it was the older generations who are more likely to have formed romantic relationships at work.

The survey was conducted by market research and data analytics company Milieu Insight in the aftermath of the global attention and debates on office romances due to the viral video of former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR head sharing an intimate moment during a Coldplay concert. To date, the clip has been viewed by close to 350 million people worldwide, across various platforms. At the same time, it has triggered serious conversations about professionalism, power dynamics, and accountability in the workplace.

Among the Baby Boomers, 38% indicated that office romances can be appropriate regardless of context. Meanwhile, 44% of all respondents said that senior-on-senior relationships are acceptable if managed transparently, though one in four cautioned about the potential for power imbalances.

Older generations more prone to office romances

Paradoxically, while younger workers were more open to workplace romances, it was the older generations who are more likely to have formed romantic relationships at work. Around 30% of Gen X and 38% of Baby Boomers said that they met their current or most recent partner at the workplace - well above the average.

One explanation for the above could be the prevalence of dating apps being a relatively recent phenomenon. In the Millennials cohort, 23% met their partners through dating apps — the highest among all age groups.

Testing boundaries at work

The survey also asked how people think their relationships would fare if they worked with their partner. A common concern – especially among Gen Z (45%) and Millennials (43%) – was that it would blur the line between personal and professional life. More than a third (37%) believed such an arrangement would test their patience or boundaries.

Workplace romance isn’t inherently wrong but when left unmanaged, especially across power dynamics, it raises red flags about favouritism, fairness, and accountability.

"These findings highlight how workplace culture is evolving, especially in the eyes of younger employees. Gen Z and Millennials expect workplace relationships to be handled with transparency and professionalism,” Juda Kanaprach, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Milieu Insight, said.

“For them, it’s not about banning relationships entirely, but about ensuring they’re disclosed to HR and managed with clear boundaries. Workplace romance isn’t inherently wrong but when left unmanaged, especially across power dynamics, it raises red flags about favouritism, fairness, and accountability. Today, it’s not just about whether relationships happen, it’s about how responsibly they’re governed. Overlooking such issues can erode trust from within."

Baby Boomers (21%) and Gen X respondents (15%) were more likely to believe working together could strengthen their relationship – reflecting both their greater experience in balancing work-life intersections and a higher tendency to have previously dated a colleague.