Trust is the foundation of any relationship, so when you start to have some doubts and suspicion grows, it can be really hard to process your emotions. One of the most challenging and painful things someone can face in a marriage or relationship is the possibility that their spouse is cheating. Even if infidelity can happen in many forms, affairs that happen at the workplace are seen as the most common types of cheating in modern relationships.

With long hours spent at work and all the professional interactions, it’s really easy for someone to cross the boundaries without realizing until it’s too late.

While there’s no way to definitely know if your significant other is cheating based only on a few signs, there are certain behaviors that may indicate that something might be wrong. If you’ve started to feel weird about your partner’s behavior at work, here are 9 signs that could tell if they are cheating at work or not.

1. Longer Work Hours

If your spouse is working longer than usual, it may be one of the first red flags. It’s not uncommon for people to have demanding jobs, but when your partner suddenly has to work late every night, go in on weekends, or is too busy to answer your phone calls or texts, things can become suspicious.

This doesn’t automatically mean that your partner is cheating at work, but it could indicate that something isn’t quite right. In some cases, people who are having an affair use work as an excuse to avoid spending time with their partner or to cover up their cheating. If these extended work hours combine with other signs, maybe you should take a deeper look.

2. They Keep Secrets About Their Work Life

When someone is cheating at work, they usually become really secretive about their workplace. If your partner starts guarding their phone, computer, or email out of the blue, or if they’re suddenly more secretive about their work, this could be a sign of infidelity.

For example, if they start deleting text messages, emails, or history from their phone or computer, this could mean that they are trying to hide something. They might also become defensive when you ask about their day at work or when they don’t want to talk about their colleagues or work projects anymore.

3. They Change Their Appearance

If your partner has suddenly started paying more attention to their appearance, it could be a sign that they are trying to impress someone, perhaps someone at work. Big changes in habits, such as wearing nicer clothes, using new cologne, or spending more time at the gym, should be immediate red flags.

While it’s natural for people to take care of their appearance, big changes in how they dress or look, with no apparent reason, could be a clue that they’re investing time and energy into someone else.

4. Emotional Distance or Disconnect

One of the most obvious signs that something may be going on is a sudden emotional and physical distance. If your partner becomes emotionally unavailable or begins avoiding you, this could be the result of cheating at work. When someone has an affair, they get easily distracted or preoccupied, which will destroy the emotional connection with their significant other.

You may notice that your spouse is no longer interested in spending time with you or avoids discussing their feelings. In some cases, they may even accuse you of being overly needy or push you away to deflect from their own guilt.

5. Unexplained Expenses or Financial Changes

Cheating at work can sometimes come with financial changes, especially if your partner is spending money on gifts, dinners, or trips that are related to their affair. If you see unexplained charges on your credit card bill, money missing from your shared account, or mysterious withdrawals, this could be a sign that your spouse is spending money on someone else.

Many people who cheat tend to become more secretive about their finances, even when there’s no obvious reason for it. If you see that your partner is spending more than usual without an explanation, it may be worth looking into this.

6. Inconsistent or Conflicting Stories

If your partner is cheating at work, they may struggle to keep their stories consistent. You might notice contradictions in their explanations about their day, their whereabouts, or their colleagues. For example, they might tell you that they’re in a meeting, but later you find out they weren’t at the office. Or they might tell you different stories about interactions with coworkers, leaving you with some questions.

If you think more and believe that your partner’s stories don’t align, or if they become defensive when you ask about details, it could be a sign that they are hiding something. While it’s natural for people to forget the tiniest details or make mistakes, repeated lies should tell you that something is wrong.

7. They Overreact to Simple Questions

A person who is cheating at work becomes defensive or agitated when you ask them about their day or work. If your spouse starts to overreact to simple questions about their colleagues, work, or the people they spend their time with, it may be a sign that they are hiding something. In some cases, they will try to accuse you of being too paranoid or suspicious, or they may deflect the questions with some other subjects.

This sensitivity could be a sign that they are feeling guilty, as they are trying to avoid some conversations that will uncover their affair. They will also become angry or upset when you ask about their day, fearing that you might find out something that they’ve been trying to hide.

8. Physical Signs of Intimacy with Someone Else

In some cases, there may be physical signs of cheating that are really difficult to ignore. If your partner spends a lot of time around someone they’re involved with, they might come home with lipstick marks on their clothing, unfamiliar smells, or traces of perfume or cologne that aren’t yours or theirs.

If you see any of this physical evidence that really can’t be explained, it may be time to have an open and honest conversation with your spouse.

9. Your Instincts Feel Off

Sometimes, the most important warning sign is not something that you can pinpoint but rather a gut feeling. If you’ve started to feel like something isn’t right, it’s worth listening to that instinct. In most cases, our subconscious picks up subtle signs such as changes in body language, tone of voice, and behavior that we might not be able to recognize in the beginning.

If your intuition tells you that something feels off with your spouse, it’s important to trust those feelings and dig deeper. This could be a sign that there are differences between what they say and what you see that they are doing. While it’s rather easy to get over these feelings of doubt, having them is the first sign that something is really wrong in your relationship.

Maybe you want to learn more about relationships or find out more about the signs of whether your spouse is cheating or not. For that, we looked and asked around until we found Relationship Anxiety, a book that digs deeper into relationships, jealousy, and attachment.

If you want to read more, maybe you can try: 6 Essential Needs Men Have in Marriage