Dating A Co-Worker
I have always heard that it’s a bad idea to have a fling at the office. Why is that? It’s estimated that as many as 60% of men and women have had some sort of office romance at some point during their professional lives. Obviously men and women are going to hook up or date the people they are attracted to, even if it is the hot brunette in the cubicle next to them. It’s silly to pass on someone just because they work with you. This person could end up being the love of your life, right? So, if you plan on going down that taboo path, there are some things you need to know before making the big decision.
If you actually care about your job (many people couldn’t care less) I highly recommend looking into your company’s policy on dating and outside relationships between employees. If that is a big NO-NO at your current company, then you would need to jump in with extreme caution, if you still decide to go against their rules.
Some companies allow dating within the office, but have certain guidelines that need to be followed. You might even have to sign something with the HR department. What you sign is different from organization to organization, but it’s definitely making some sort of public declaration of the relationship.
Even if your attraction level to someone is through the roof, you need to think rationally and clearly about your job first. You need to think about his or her job as well. The last thing you want to happen is to get fired, or to get the other person fired. If one of you is in a position of power, it’s important not to let the relationship look like it’s happening for career advancement.
That is why you need to take things slowly. Let it advance at a snail’s pace. This might be hard to do, but you need to do it if you are going to give this type of romance a try. You will want to frequent their desk less often, and send fewer emails. As most of you know, people like to talk. Office gossip is a strong bonding tool for people, so if you plan on opening your mouth to anyone, make sure you trust them 100%.
One great thing about dating a co-worker is the fact that you constantly have a strong topic of conversation, and an instant bond. It is a lot easier to listen to someone complain about work if you know exactly where they’re coming from. You can also have piece of mind knowing what they are doing all day if you are the jealous type. Although, that could also be a bad thing if they work closely with someone that you might be threatened by. The whole “out of sight out of mind” thing goes right out the window.
Seeing too much of the person could end up being a problem. Early on in relationships it’s so easy to want to spend every moment together, but usually there is an 8-10 hour period during the day when you don’t see each other, or talk to one another. All the time you spend together is at night and on the weekends. However, if you are not compatible, you might figure this out sooner after spending all that time together. This could expedite the inevitable.
If you plan on hooking up or dating the co-worker you’ve been flirting with for the last few months, do so with caution. Remember to check out your company’s policy on everything, and try and keep things quiet for the first couple months. If things don’t work out between the two of you, remember, that you will still be working together. You should discuss this during the relationship. You also need to have a clear communication and understanding on the whole situation. If you don’t, it could end up being a disaster.

