Abstract
Workplace romances are an under-investigated area of communication inquiry. However, recent studies have begun to study the interpersonal and organizational implications of these relationships. Studies suggest that the perceived motive of the workplace romance influences communication. We sought to update Quinn's (Citation1977) typology of workplace romance motives and gain a deeper understanding of contemporary motives for engaging in workplace romances. Using qualitative methods, we found employees voiced four motives for engaging in these relationships: similarity, time, ease of opportunity, and the hook-up. Conclusions and implications of these findings for organizations are discussed.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Renee L. Cowan
Renee L. Cowan (PhD, Texas A&M University, 2009) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249. Email: [email protected]
Sean M. Horan
Sean M. Horan (PhD, West Virginia University, 2009) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. E-mail: [email protected]