If you enjoy a little banter with a colleague by the copy machine in the office, keep at it. It turns out, flirting with a coworker can be beneficial, according to new research.
A study from Washington State University finds that casual flirting with colleagues at work is relatively harmless and can even be beneficial. Researchers analyzed data from surveys of workers in the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines, both before and after the #MeToo movement. They found that most feel lighthearted banter and flirtation among peers is a positive experience, but researchers make a clear distinction between that kind of interaction and unwelcome acts of sexual harassment.
"Some flirting is happening, and it seems pretty benign," explains study authorLeah Sheppard. "Even when our study participants disliked the behavior, it still didn't reach the threshold of sexual harassment. It didn't produce higher levels of stress, so it is a very different conceptual space."
She explains that when flirtation is enjoyed, it comes with benefits including making people feel good about themselves, which helps them better handle stress in their lives. But the flirting experience is only positive when it’s between coworkers, not supervisors. If there’s a power imbalance, that’s when things may cross the line and be perceived as sexual harassment.
Source:Women's Health