At a recent dinner party, one of our guests shared a story about a weekend getaway with her work spouse. I wasn’t familiar with the term but learned it’s a co-worker with whom you share a close platonic relationship. Often the emotional bond mirrors that of a real wife or husband, but there’s no hanky-panky. (Here are 7 signs that will tell you if you’re in a relationship.)

This got me wondering if having a work spouse improves your career and how chemistry plays into the mix. Heidi Reeder, an associate professor of communication (whose teaching specialties include gender and workplace communication), explains that a little flirting can help develop a positive relationship with a work spouse:

‘œIt’s an esteem booster for both men and women to have a little flirtation in their day — it makes them feel a little better, gives them a little more energy.’ Liking your co-workers might make you more excited about coming to work, too. ‘œYou’re happy to see them,’ Reeder says, ‘œinstead of, ‘˜Ugh, I hate these people.”

In fact, flirting might even have some indirect benefits on the job, says Reeder, citing research conducted at the University of South Alabama in 2003 showing that people who don’t flirt very much have lower energy levels and rate themselves as less attractive than people who flirt a lot.

Other research points to benefits for both the employee and employer:

Aside from showing a new employee the firm’s culture and unwritten rules, they serve the same role as a mutual mentor. They bounce ideas off each other, offer advice and emotional support. That’¦ is the No. 1 reason employees give for staying with a job.

While studies have shown that married people make more money, do you think that work marriages are equally good for your bottom line? Feel free to comment below with your own examples.

And keep in mind, there’s a fine line sometimes begging to be crossed when chemistry is what made you connect in the first place. Here are 5 questions you can ask yourself if your daily dalliance is beginning to feel like cheating.

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