The Sudden Rise of Office Affairs in India: “Corporate affairs,” a phrase once reserved for boardrooms, is now being used more frequently to describe relationships between coworkers or bosses within companies. Some shocking stories are coming out of India, where cheating at work has caused not only broken families but also lies, emotional pain, and even murder.
Real-Life Incidents
- Gurgaon (2020): A software engineer left his pregnant wife in Indore during the COVID lockdown. He didn’t contact her for two years. When she tracked him down, he had married his office colleague and had a child with her.
- Mumbai: A man faked having COVID and fled to Indore with his colleague, telling his wife he was going to die. She filed a missing person complaint. Police later uncovered his secret affair.
- Chennai: A police officer murdered his wife to continue his relationship with a colleague.
- Bangalore: Yashas murdered Harini, a co-worker who wanted to end their affair.
boyfriend in hotel room.
- Sonam Raghuvanshi Case: Raj, her office colleague and boyfriend, helped Sonam murder her husband during their honeymoon.
Shocking Statistics in India
| Survey/Source | Data |
|---|---|
| Economic Times | 34% of employees have had an office affair |
| Glendon (Dec 2024) | 270% rise in Indian users |
| Glendon Survey | 25% of corporate workers are cheating on spouses |
| The Telegraph | 25% of corporate workers are cheating on their spouses |
Cultural & Social Causes
- Night Shifts and Isolation: Employees, especially those in the IT/BPO sector, often lose contact with their families and social circles due to graveyard shifts. These shifts encourage closeness and intimacy with colleagues.
“Couples with night shifts and a child were 6 times more likely to divorce.” – Journal of Marriage & Family.
- Career Advancement:
| Data Point | Statistic |
| Office Affairs with Boss | 55% |
| Said affairs help in promotions | 30% |
- Financial Pressure:
- Forty-seven per cent of professionals are unhappy with their salaries.
- Seventy-five per cent of Indians don’t have an emergency fund.
- Loan defaults have risen 142% among students.
Overwork & Emotional Neglect
Seventy per cent of Indian employees feel overworked. One in four IT employees works 70 hours a week. Daily average commute: 55 minutes.
This leaves couples with no time to connect or spend time together emotionally. Many return home exhausted, further widening the gap.
Arranged Marriages & Compatibility Issues
- Ashley Madison Survey: 80% of Indian users in affairs had arranged marriages.
- The Hindu (2010): 78% of brides knew their groom less than a month before marriage. Sixty-six per cent met them for the first time at the wedding.
Long-Term Relationship Success (US Study by Dr. John Gottman)
Successful couples listed the following as key:
- Recently shared experiences
- Plans for the future
- Shared dreams
- Shared hobbies and goals
In contrast, many Indian couples have none of these.
Children & Mental Trauma
Extramarital affairs break families, often leaving children traumatised. Many children suffer anxiety, depression, or take drastic steps due to parental conflict.
Scientific Solutions (By Experts)
- Five Love Languages (by Gary Chapman):
- Words of Affirmation
- Quality Time
- Receiving Gifts
- Acts of Service
- Physical Touch
- Survey Finding: Couples who engage in physical intimacy three times a week exhibit greater happiness and bonding.
- No-Phone Zones: Suggested by NY marriage coach Peter McFede to improve bedtime communication.
An extra-marital affair may offer momentary relief, but it destroys trust, breaks families, and emotionally scars children. Compatibility, not convenience, should drive relationship choices.
There is no such thing as a perfect partner, but two people willing to grow together can make a long-term relationship work.
