Being Forced Back to the Office Led 4 in 10 Workers To Find Love

In February, ResumeTemplates surveyed 912 U.S. workers who had been allowed to work remotely during the pandemic and had been single at some point in the last four years. The findings reveal that, for a notable percentage, in-person work has led to unexpected romantic connections.

Study highlights:

• 38% of RTO workers have found love, and 10% say returning to the office played a key role
• Remote workers are less likely to have found love, and most say working from home is to blame
• Nearly half of single remote workers are considering a job with in-office requirements to improve their dating prospects

Returning To the Office Sparks Romance for 1 in 10 Workers

For some workers, RTO mandates haven’t just reshaped their professional lives but have also sparked new romances. Among those who have been forced back to in-person work, 38% say they’ve found love, and for about 10%, returning to the office was the key reason. Whether it was meeting a coworker in the office, striking up a conversation during their commute, or connecting with someone at a nearby café or lunch spot, in-person work has led to more than just meetings and deadlines.

A third (33%) of workers in relationships say going back to in-person work has improved their dating life, while among single workers, only 23% feel RTO has benefited their dating life, while the majority report no change, and some even say it’s made things worse.

“I wasn’t thrilled about returning to the office, but I never expected it would lead to me meeting my partner. We started chatting over coffee breaks, then grabbed lunch a few times, and now we’re planning our first trip together. If I had stayed remote, I don’t think our paths would have ever crossed,” says Marketing Manager Kerry L.

Remote Workers Are More Likely to Be Single This Valentine’s Day; More Than Half Say WFH Is to Blame

While RTO workers might have had better luck in the love department, remote workers are heading into Valentine’s Day with fewer romantic prospects. A striking 69% of remote workers we surveyed report being single. Many believe their work-from-home setup plays a role — 33% say working remotely definitely makes dating harder, while another 25% say it probably does.

The struggle to find connections has even prompted some to consider making a career move. Nearly half (48%) of single remote workers say they are highly (21%) or somewhat (27%) considering switching to a job with in-person components, hoping that a return to office life might also mean a return to dating opportunities.

“Working from home has its benefits, but it’s been terrible for my social and dating life. Before remote work I would meet people organically, but now I feel isolated. I’ve tried dating apps, but it’s just not the same as forming connections in-person from the get-go,” laments Fred T, a remote software engineer.

Methodology: ResumeTemplates commissioned this survey via Pollfish in February 2025. The survey included 912 U.S. full-time workers ages 18 to 55 and was balanced by gender. Respondents were selected using demographic parameters and screening questions to ensure relevance. To qualify, participants had to indicate that they had been or were single at some point in the past four years and that they work for a company that went fully remote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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