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Winter warning: Don't be shocked if you see tears around the water cooler this month.
It's national breakup season through Valentine's Day, according to a survey to be released Thursday by Yahoo Personals, the most visited online dating service.
People are twice as likely to reassess their love lives between the holidays and Valentine's Day, Yahoo research shows. If they think they're in a romantic rut, or don't have a shared view of the future with their partner, someone's likely to be dumped.
" `Find a new love' is up there with `weight loss' and `save more money' as a New Year's resolution," said Anna Zornosa, vice president and general manager of Yahoo Personals, which conducted the survey to find out why the personals business is so hot this time of year. "People tend to put up with current relationships to have a partner for holiday gatherings, but once the festivities are over it's time to fish or cut bait."
Lost love can be a workplace productivity issue, too, Yahoo officials say.
Not only are broken-hearted people moping around the office, but co-workers often console and counsel these recent dumpees.
Also, of the 2,583 people surveyed, most said they would be "very likely" to go online to check out their romantic options before a breakup. And that means office computers could be buzzing.
On the flip side, many of those jilted lick their wounds by immersing themselves in work, Sunnyvale-based Yahoo says.
That's why it's a no-no to break upwith someone on their work e-mail or phone, survey respondents said.
On another note, Monday was deemed the best day to do the deed, since it's a difficult workday anyway.
What can co-workers do to help people in "Splitsville"?
"Listen, and be a good sounding board," said Susan Mernit, Yahoo Personal's relationship expert who just dumped her boyfriend. "Then, maybe take them to a movie to distract them and encourage them to let go."
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