Amid rising reports of blurred professional boundaries and recent high-profile corporate scandals, relationship therapists and psychologists in Plymouth are speaking out about a growing issue rarely addressed in boardrooms: emotional infidelity in the workplace.
While traditional definitions of infidelity often focus on physical encounters, local experts warn that emotional affairs — built on secret texts, late-night calls, or “work spouse” dynamics — can be just as damaging to long-term relationships.
“People often dismiss it with phrases like, ‘We’re just really close,’ or ‘It’s harmless banter,’” says Dr. Eleanor Harper, a clinical psychologist based in Plymouth. “But emotional intimacy that is hidden from a partner, especially when it rivals or exceeds the emotional connection at home, is a serious breach of trust.”
The New ‘Office Affair’ Has Gone Digital
In an age of hybrid work, Slack messages, Zoom calls, and company retreats, many employees are forming intense emotional bonds with colleagues that may cross personal boundaries — even without physical contact. According to a 2025 workplace wellness study, 41% of employees admitted to having an “emotionally inappropriate” relationship at work, and 1 in 5 confessed they kept it secret from their partner.
“With long hours, shared deadlines, and emotional highs and lows, it’s easy to see how someone becomes a ‘work husband’ or ‘work wife,’” explains Samantha Linford, a couples therapist specializing in workplace-related stress. “But when emotional energy that belongs in a romantic relationship is redirected elsewhere, resentment and distance build quickly.”
Corporate Headlines Spark Conversation
The conversation has been reignited locally following a viral exposé involving a Fortune 500 executive who was removed after internal emails revealed a months-long emotional entanglement with a subordinate. Though no physical affair was confirmed, the fallout — both personally and professionally — was swift and severe.
Local organizations are now beginning to consult therapists and HR advisors on how to set clearer expectations and address “emotional boundary violations” in company policies.
What’s the Line — and When Is It Crossed?
Experts suggest warning signs of emotional infidelity include:
- Sharing personal secrets you don’t tell your partner
- Seeking emotional support from a colleague instead of your spouse
- Hiding the depth of your workplace friendship
- Feeling a romantic “charge” or jealousy over the colleague’s time
“If you wouldn’t act the same way with your partner in the room, ask yourself why,” Dr. Harper advises. “It’s about intention, secrecy, and the emotional energy you’re investing.”
Final Thought
Plymouth’s relationship experts agree: while emotional infidelity doesn’t leave physical evidence, its impact can be deeply corrosive — to trust, to relationships, and to workplace dynamics. As romantic boundaries evolve in a hyper-connected professional world, the call for awareness and open dialogue has never been louder.
