‘Creepy’ and ‘odd’ Valentine’s Day card sparks fury with shoppers

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and shops are full to the brim with cards for all kinds of relationships — apparently including professional (or unprofessional, depending who you ask) ones. But Card Factory has caused controversy this week with a range of ‘work wife’ and ‘work husband’ options, that have left many pondering whether they should just sell ‘affair’ cards instead.

TikTok user @elehunn recently posted a video of one such card, which read: ‘For my work wife on Valentine’s Day. I’ve finally found someone just as inappropriate as me.’. Ellie looked in disbelief, captioning her video, ‘Surely not, Card Factory,’ and urging the company to ‘sort it out’. She wasn’t the only person with the same reaction either, as hundreds flocked to the comments in agreement, including one who wrote: ‘HR will be busy this month.’.

‘Why not just make an “affair partner” card?’ @caputmortuum_ asked, while @heyitsmariah222 said: ‘This is so wrong.’. For some it was personal, with @lavlavlovely commenting: ‘It’s all fun and games until your husband really leaves you for his work wife.’. Another, @lost2thesauce, added: ‘I’ve lost two husbands to a “work wife” I’m traumatized.’. Some didn’t see an issue though.

‘Don’t get the issue with these cards,’ wrote @victoriaedwards24. ‘It’s funny if it’s for the right people.’. And post on Reddit’s ‘CasualUK’ forum saw similarly strong responses, including one reading: ‘I would be deeply unhappy to receive (or learn that my partner had received) a Valentine’s Day card from their work spouse. The whole concept is odd.’. Meanwhile, @spacespaces joked: ‘It comes in a two-pack with “Sorry to Hear About Your Divorce.”’.

Some also called it ‘creepy’ and ‘cringey’, or claimed it was bound to ’cause arguments’. According to dating coach Hayley Quinn, ‘it’s normal to form strong relationships with people you meet through work’, and calling someone your work spouse is a way of ‘showing that you’ve reached a special intimacy with this person’. She tells Metro: ‘Much like swapping a friendship bracelet with your BFF at school, taking a work wife or husband can be a way that you form a special bond with someone at work you feel like you can count on.’.

@CardFactoryUK fuming sort it out xx. However, Hannah Reeves, LMFT and relationship expert at PrivateSugarClub, highlights that this requires ‘clearly defined’ boundaries where both individuals respect their existing personal relationships. ‘If emotional intimacy crosses into romantic territory, it could blur the lines and create tensions in both the work environment and personal relationships,’ she explains. ‘It’s essential to maintain professionalism and be mindful of how these connections affect both work dynamics and outside commitments.’.

Hannah also notes it could also affect personal relationships, potentially causing ’emotional distance’ if one partner relies on receiving their emotional fulfilment at the office, and can ‘create feelings of neglect or insecurity’ in the other. Hayley adds: ‘There’s a big difference between seeking camaraderie in the workplace and seeking an emotional escape from the romantic relationship that you have in your home life.’.

When it comes to the corporate side of work wives and husbands, Victoria McLean, career coach and CEO of City CV says the label can ‘blur lines, exclude others and can make people uncomfortable – whether that’s your partner, colleagues or the “work spouse” themselves.’. She tells Metro: ‘Professional relationships should be based on trust and respect, not playful but loaded titles. Strong professional bonds don’t need romantic framing. The best work relationships thrive on trust, collaboration and respect – without the need for playing office spouses.’.

As for whether a Valentine’s Day card is an appropriate gift for your ‘work spouse’, Victoria claims it might not always be appreciated, commenting: ‘If a gift could be misinterpreted or make someone feel awkward, rethink it.’. Victoria recommends following the rule: ‘If you’d happily give the same thing to anyone in the team, it’s probably fine. But if you wouldn’t feel comfortable explaining the gift to your boss, HR, or your actual partner, it’s best left on the shelf.’.

Hannah agrees, adding: ‘It’s essential to consider the context and whether the gesture may cause discomfort among other colleagues or lead to misunderstandings.’. Do you have a story to share?. Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk. Arrow MORE: Love yourself (spots and all) with 47 Skin’s Valentine’s Day skincare bundles. Arrow MORE: Dining solo this Valentine’s Day? These London restaurants are perfect for singles.