Sometimes the only way to get through the daily grind is with
your partner by your side. But is working with your S.O. really all it's
cracked up to be? And more importantly: Could it spell trouble for your
career?
[post_ads_2]
It's been said that most people in this
world want two things above all else: to make money and to find love. So
it only makes sense it's becoming more common for coworkers to start dating in the workplace.
Office taboos aside, who wouldn't want to have their best buddy from work become their S.O. as well? According to Business Insider,
more than half of American working professionals have participated in
an office romance of some variety, with women as the more likely gender
to engage in a relationship with a coworker. Those stats mean the
chances of you (or someone you know) having an office fling is pretty
likely.
We talked to several
relationship and career experts to get their advice on everything you
need to know about getting close with your cubicle buddy.
1. DO: Accept That You'll Likely Be Attracted To Someone At Work
Dr. Helen Fisher,
Match.com's official chief scientific officer, says that people tend to
fall in love with someone they're physically around and who also share
the same goals, values, educational background and intelligence. Combine
all these factors into one, and your office essentially becomes a petri
dish of love life possibility.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
Fisher's recent research
has found that nearly one in three millennial women start romantic
relationships at work, so if you catch someone glancing at you from the
water cooler, it's all thanks to science.
2. DO: Be Wary Of Hooking Up With A Close Colleague
Spending
more than 40 hours per week in the same room as the hunk who sits
nearby might sound like a dream, but if your hot and heavy hookups
suddenly turn sour, you still have to work alongside him or her. TopResume's Career Management Expert Amanda Augustine
says she has witnessed relationships both blossom and implode at the
workplace, and cautions against starting a close connection if you're
not sure there's potential for a long-term attraction.
Fisher
agrees. "If you're looking to have a one night stand or a temporary
fling, look somewhere else. There are plenty of people out there you can
hook up with without starting a potentially not-so-great office
romance."
Monster.com Career Expert Vicki Salemi
advises against work relationships in general, but if you're going to
go for it regardless, she recommends avoiding getting too close with
teammates or people who work in your same department.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
"The
worst thing you can do is start a thing with someone you have to work
with every day," says Salemi. "If things go wrong, you might not be able
to get over it very quickly, and you may even contemplate getting a new
job!"
Additionally, it might be
more than a faux pas or awkward one night stand if your workplace has
rules against dating within the workplace. Be sure you're aware of the
rules, and if hookups are a no-no, be ready to leave your job if you
decide to take things with a colleague to the next level.
3. DON'T: Definitely Don't Date Your Boss
Is
there's one cardinal rule of office romance to follow, it's this one:
Romancing your boss would get really messy pretty quickly... and in most
cases, could even be a red flag for HR.
"It
can get really dangerous if you and your boss get romantically involved
and are not on the same page," says Fisher. "You could get treated at
work differently, and if word gets around about your relationship
without your consent, you have an entirely different issue on your
hands."
Augustine says to avoid
getting involved with your boss at all costs. Both of your professional
reputations could be at risk if you're not careful, and this type of
behavior can even have legal implications.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
While
the heart wants what it wants, getting involved with a superior could
spell serious trouble for you—differing paychecks and workplace
etiquette included.
4. DON'T: Engage In PDA At The Office
If
you cringe at the sight of hand-holding in public, can you fathom
openly displays of affection in your work space? Even if it's just a
peck on the cheek or a quick hug by the elevator, you should definitely
avoid all types of PDA at work at all costs.
"Even
if everyone in the office knows you're an item, don't go flaunting it,"
says Salemi. "You could make your other coworkers feel uncomfortable or
even hurt your own productivity."
"Nobody
wants to see you playing footsie under the conference room table," says
Augustine. "Your personal life and professional brand should never
clash, no matter how much you like your coworker."
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
5. DO: Decide When To Become Office Official
Once
you've determined your flirtation has passed the fling stage, you and
your coworker/partner must mutually decide when it's appropriate to let
the rest of your team know about your dating status (or not).
"It's
better to wait until you have a firm grasp on the situation before you
go broadcasting your personal life," advises Augustine. "If things don't
work out, you'll have to face that awkwardness head on."
Salemi
recommends making an office relationship known to the public in a
tasteful fashion, such as a quiet announcement at lunch. A personal
issue like your love life doesn't require sending a company-wide email
or approaching every coworker individually.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
6. DO: Embrace The Situation If It's Right For You
For
some people, a successful career is their first real love, and any
other relationship comes second. Some people are lucky enough to find
both in the same place!
Your
soulmate could coincidentally share a cubicle with you, but it's up to
your discretion whether or not you should look for a different
opportunity to let the relationship grow, according to Augustine. Love
works in mysterious ways, and if it happens to strike at work, just make
sure you're prepared.
