Physical Attraction in the Workplace

By Tom Murphy, Morgan Macey and Anna Tarantino

Research QuestionHow does physical attraction to co-workers in

the workplace affect performance?

Methodology Why a focus group?

Population - College students with a physical attraction to a coworker Sample – Non-probability convenient sample Sample Size – 7 College students ranging from freshman to junior

status

How we recruited participants?

Discussion guide rationale

Results3 Themes

Position importance

Performance changes

The effect on others and the environment

Position ImportancePosition held more importance than the

attractionStudent C, “I couldn’t compromise my

performance in any way because that would compromise my job.”

Student E, “She just didn’t make it worth it for me to go for it.”

Student F, “I kind of had to stay loyal to my dads place.”

Performance Changes 2 Sub Themes

Not affected Student B said that they “maintained that professionalism, and none of

us would have gone to far to ruin that” Student F said “I had to stay loyal to my dad’s place”.

Worked harder/Became competitive Student C stated, “The two of us were the top callers in our shift. So we

would always be like butting heads and competing”. She also said she used competition to “prove herself” and be more

“impressive”. Student A said “we both like raced each other and were competitive

with each other.” Student E says that it “was about the rewards”. He explains by saying

“if you were showing progress, then you keep going with it. If she was not laughing or monotone, then you’re gunna stop.” Student F agreed.

Effect on Others/Environment When asked if the attraction was talked about with

coworkers Students B and G – yes

Student E would talk about it with the cooks in the kitchen “They would talk to me in Spanish and they’d get little words

out and it was like, “You hitting that?” and when I said no they would chase me around with knives and be like why not?”

Student F talked about it with his father in an awkward conversation “He told me to stop because basically I don’t think he really

liked her as a person, and then also the complexity of if we started dating and she works for my dad kind of thing, might be weird for everybody.”

ConclusionWhat was the purpose of the study?Do the results make sense in the world?What would we do differently?What are some suggestions for future research?