Some of us spend most of our lives in the office around our coworkers and it’s no wonder that many of them start hooking up after a while. From flirting in the copy room to having after-work drinks, office romances can be a risky, yet an exciting proposition. If you’ve found The One in your workplace, good for you, but the way you handle your office tryst could very well save your career, besides your relationship, obviously. Here are five dos and don’ts when it comes to dating a coworker.
DOS
Be Discreet – Discretion is always key for a successful office romance. It’s okay if you steal glances at each other over the photocopier but don’t drape yourself over his desk. Remember that everyone is watching so maintain your subtlety and be professional.
Beware of the company law – Your company might have its own policy when it comes to office romances and the last thing you’d want is to get terminated for misconduct. If you’ve just started dating, keep it low and see how things go. But if the both of you are serious about taking a step further, talk to your boss about it and request for a switch in departments if your boss thinks that it’s going to disrupt the office environment.
Be very sure before you make a move – You noticed that he was winking at you at the cafeteria and you’ve always had a little crush on him. Then, you send him a suggestive text message with inappropriate innuendos to drop a hint. But, oops, he wasn’t interested and he’s just shown the entire office the text you sent him, so now you’re the talk of the town. Be careful at all times.
Be careful with emails – Don’t use emails to send flirty X-rated messages to each other because your trails of emails can always be tracked by the company’s network. You wouldn’t want to risk getting caught that way and what if your emails went public? How are you going to face the music? Use your phone instead.
Tell a few close colleagues – Rumors spread like lightning in the workplace. So, instead of being the feature story in the office and have your coworkers speculate about the both of you, confide in a few close coworkers in the office so that the intrigue will disappear.
DON’TS
Fool around with someone who’s married – Nobody is going to support your relationship if you’re a potential home wrecker. You’ll also run the risk of having his wife turn up at the office with a huge can of paint to toss at you. When there are families and other halves involved, you have to think about the consequences and how much is at stake.
Be a drama queen – Just because your partner was talking closely to another female coworker, don’t throw a giant fit in the office and end up crying in the restroom because nobody is going to feel sorry for you. If the both of you are fighting midday, take a 10-minute walk outside and talk it through. If all else fails, tell your partner to resume the discussion at home.
Get frisky in the office – Just because it’s called office romance, it doesn’t mean that you have to conduct it in the office. Beware of all the security cameras and know that you’re being watched at all times. If you want to save yourself from all the embarrassment and consequences, save the passion for after-hours.
Neglect everyone else – Just because you’re in a relationship, it doesn’t mean that your social life should be neglected. Not only will this be healthy for your relationship, keeping a life separate from your relationship will help you feel more empowered too. Go out with your coworkers as per usual and make sure that the both of you do not sneak away privately every single lunch hour.
Change your persona when your partner is in the same room – Make sure to behave like the same person you were before you were involved with your partner. Don’t ever, put on the playful and seductive front you have when you’re getting down and dirty at home. Always remember to keep things professional.
