How common is cheating in Singapore? That’s the controversial question a Singapore Redditor had after encountering a series of incidents at their office that left them reeling from shock.
They recounted how a married coworker in her 40s was caught making out with an engaged colleague in his mid-20s in an empty meeting room.
The OP added that other coworkers told them such cases were “quite common” in the corporate world, but often go unnoticed as those involved actively try to hide their affairs. They were also told that workplace stress and unhappy marriages can push some people to seek comfort in colleagues of the opposite sex.
But that wasn’t the only case of cheating that the OP had come across recently.
They then revealed that just weeks earlier, they discovered a close friend — someone they had always thought of as “really innocent and wise” — had been secretly cheating on her boyfriend.
Calling the situation “quite crazy,” the OP said it was unsettling to see how many people appear happy with their partners on the surface, while “all sorts of hidden things” are happening behind the scenes. They went on to ask whether cheating was commonplace beyond the corporate world and across Singapore in general.
Netizens were quick to chime in with their own encounters and experiences in the thread that has drawn over 500 comments at press time. Sadly, many agreed that cheating is common here.
One netizen shared: “Had a friend who got married in January, and is living separately from her husband as their BTO isn’t ready yet. In late August she found out she was pregnant with another guy’s baby. The guy she had affair with was already married for more than 10 years.”
Another recounted three separate incidents involving colleagues at their company, all of whom were married with children, whose affairs were eventually exposed.
A netizen was even introduced to her married colleague’s “affair partner”, who she knew was also married. “They later broke up and she started going out with another married man,” she added.
These incidents, according to some, made them think about who these cheaters really are beneath the surface.
Some netizens were curious about which industry the OP worked in, while a number shared their views on what drives people to cheat.
“[Cheating is] pretty common. Some do it for the thrill, some do it to prove they are still attractive, some do it for empathy seeking,” opined one netizen. Another simply stated: “It’s the temptation of the forbidden fruit.”
Others, however, were quick to condemn those who engage in extramarital affairs.
“Even though cheating may be common, it doesn’t mean it’s normal or appropriate,” asserted one commenter.
Another added: “It’s easy to catch feelings when you spend long hours with someone, while working on a project, or on frequent business trips. But I tend to think lowly of cheaters because it just screams poor impulse control.”
That said, amid the overwhelming consensus that cheating in Singapore is “more commonplace than we think,” a handful provided differing takes.
“What industries are you all in? I work in tech and we got nothing going on,” wrote one netizen.
Another raised a more measured point, noting that while “most people do not cheat,” cases involving those who do often attract plenty of attention. Such stories, they explained, tend to be widely discussed when uncovered, and as a result, more likely to stick in people’s minds.
Others reacted with resignation and frustration.
“This thread is depressing,” declared one netizen, while another lamented: “And here I am single for 40 years without being able to find a partner.”
Cheating is undeniably wrong — but how often have you actually encountered it firsthand within your circles?
Photos: Reddit/ r/askSingapore, Gustavo Fring/ Pexels