Work in Kazakhstan is becoming not only a place for career advancement but also a space for personal development. Ahead of Kozy Korpesh–Bayan Sulu Day — the Kazakh Valentine’s Day celebrated on April 15 — the recruitment platform hh.kz surveyed more than 1,700 people to find out how often workplace relationships turn into something more.
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The survey found that:
- 51% of respondents have fallen in love at work at least once.
- 31% said their feelings were mutual.
- 14% chose to hide their feelings from colleagues.
- 6% said their feelings were not reciprocated.
From office romance to marriage
Workplace relationships often evolve into long-term commitments. According to the study, 11% of respondents said they eventually married a colleague, while another 16% are currently in a relationship with someone they met at work. In total, nearly one in four office romances resulted in a couple.
Attitudes toward workplace relationships
Attitudes toward office romance in Kazakhstan remain largely pragmatic. About 44% of respondents said such relationships are acceptable as long as they do not affect job performance, while 27% said they oppose romantic relationships between colleagues.
At the same time, many believe it is possible to balance personal and professional life. About 46% of respondents said the key is clearly separating roles. In addition, 52% said they know real-life examples of colleagues who met at work and are still together.
