Infidelity in the Workplace: Revealing the Top Cheating Industries and Telltale Signs, Survey Finds

Late nights at the office, long work trips,  boozy office parties – roughly 85% of affairs begin in the workplace, with one in five employees confessing to being unfaithful with a colleague. The allure of the forbidden fruit can be fairly tempting, especially in an environment where professionalism and boundaries are expected to be upheld  – and many can’t help but take a bite.

However, could certain professions be more prone to infidelity?

The experts at RANT Casino have surveyed 3,800 individuals across the UK to ultimately reveal the industries serving as hotbeds for workplace affairs where infidelity thrives. For those with doubts, the experts further partnered up with celebrity psychic and body language expert, Inbaal Honigman, to unveil the telltale signs your partner is having a work affair.

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The five signs of workplace cheating to look out for, according to a body language expert:

1 They can’t make eye contact with you

If your partner is cheating, they won’t be able to maintain prolonged eye contact with you as a result of them trying to conceal any telltale facial expressions. Watch for quick glances that break away when you try to lock eyes with them. If you suspect infidelity, try to  initiate conversations about work and pay attention as their gaze may dart from side to side while they attempt to keep their lies aligned.

2. They go into defensive mode when talking about work

A partner with nothing to hide will typically exhibit open, neutral gestures with arms and hands hanging naturally by their side when talking about work. But if someone is being untruthful, they may display closed-off body language such as clenched fists, crossed arms, or covering their mouth or face with their hands, which makes them feel protected as they try to hide what they’re saying.

3. There will be tension on the shoulders

Cheating at work can lead to heightened stress levels, and this tension often manifests in the shoulders, causing them to appear raised and rigid. This defensive posture may be a physical indication of their internal turmoil.

4. They are constantly scrambling to keep their phones close at hand

A cheating partner may be worried that their phone will be found and reveal something about their affair. A calm, neutral person would stand and talk without much movement, while a nervous person fidgets. Look for signs like hopping from one foot to the next, tapping their toes, and always searching for their phone – tapping their pocket or looking for it with their nervous eyes. Restlessness could signify trouble.

5. They tend to walk at a much faster pace

Strolling down the road with a cheating partner can be a rollercoaster ride. They may be overly concerned about being discovered, leading them to walk at a faster pace, which may feel hurried and anxious. If you’re holding hands, you may notice sweaty palms. They might also be constantly scanning their surroundings – a sign of their nervousness and fear of being seen by someone at work or their work fling.

Top industries for workplace affairs revealed

Rank	Industry	No. of affairs	Proportion [of those who have confessed to infidelity]		Rank	Industry	No. of affairs	Proportion [of those who have confessed to infidelity]
1	Sales	239	14.5%		14	Social care	31	1.9%
2	Teacher, training, and education	226	13.7%		15	Energy and utilities	27	1.6%
3	Healthcare	205	12.5%		16	Retail	23	1.4%
4	Transport and logistics	161	9.8%		17	Public services and administration	22	1.3%
5	Hospitality and events management	126	7.7%		18	Marketing, advertising and PR	14	0.9%
6	Engineering and manufacturing	109	6.6%		19	Environment and agriculture	10	0.6%
7	Property and construction	90	5.5%		20=	Law/Legal	9	0.5%
8	Accountancy, banking and finance	88	5.4%		20=	Media and internet	9	0.5%
9	Information technology	76	4.6%		22	Creative arts and design	7	0.4%
10	Armed Forces	65	4.0%		23	Law enforcement and security	3	0.2%
11	Recruitment and HR	36	2.2%		24=	Business, consulting and management	2	0.1%
12=	Charity and voluntary work	32	1.9%		24=	Science and pharmaceuticals	2	0.1%
12=	Leisure, sport and tourism	32	1.9%

RANT Casino’s survey can reveal that people who work in sales stacked up as the top cheaters with a striking 14.5% (239 individuals) admitting to having workplace affairs out of the 1,644 respondents who have confessed to infidelity. Often with irregular working hours and numerous work functions or networking events to attend, this places the industry at the forefront as a prime breeding ground for infidelity.

Following closely with 13.7% (226 respondents) guilty of cheating on their significant other, the second most common cheaters are in education – professors, teachers and lecturers. A surprising profession to land among the top three, intelligence is indeed sexy, and you never know what sort of extracurricular activity your teacher spouse is involved in, being named among the naughtiest of professionals!

In third place are healthcare workers with a staggering 12.5% (205 respondents) owning up to having cheated with a colleague. Plagued by long and unpredictable hours, overnight emergency shifts, and paramount stress, health professionals may lead them to seek solace with someone who is in the same field and understands their daily struggles.

Transport and logistics ranks as the fourth most likely to engage in infidelity (9.8%), while hospitality and events management in fifth accounts for 126 cases of infidelity (7.7%). On the flip side, partners of those working in science and pharmaceuticals, business management, and law enforcement can breathe a sigh of relief, with the three being the most faithful professions among all 25 industries analysed.

From casual office banter to regular coffee breaks, a substantial 24.8% (408 individuals) have confessed that the infidelity started within the workplace. Communication through texts, phone calls and social media accounted for 21.4% (352 respondents) while 21.2% (348 respondents) agreed that the affair flourished at workplace gatherings or events such as the notorious Christmas party where over millions of Brits admitted to have made this merry mistake. 

An astonishing 25.5% (605 respondents) admitted to flirting with a colleague, and roughly half of that amount (15.1%) owned up to having further developed romantic feelings. Additionally, nearly 13% confessed to having a ‘work wife’ or ‘work husband’ following concerning study findings which have revealed that those with a work spouse are more prone to confide in them than their actual partners.

A surprising 22.2% (561 individuals) have been sneaky enough to keep their illicit act under the radar while 17% got caught due to someone at work exposing their clandestine behaviour. Moreover, a noteworthy 14.6% (368 respondents) were dramatically spotted by their partner’s friends who divulged their affair.