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Mixing business with pleasure in an office romance can seem natural, even irresistible. When it comes to lust and love, the strong feelings involved play havoc with common sense, making many willing to throw caution to the wind. Worse, having a romantic relationship with an attractive colleague can prove all but irresistible. The workplace is a prime spot for getting to know people on your same professional level who might share many of your interests. Additionally, the close proximity actually increases the likelihood of chemistry between colleagues. But an office romance is playing with fire, and even the most reckless romantic gamblers should consider whether it's worth the risk of getting burned.
If you're thinking about dating a person you work with, first check your company's fraternization policy on whether they allow it.
A lot of the time, companies frown on inter-office relationships, especially boss/employee ones. The risk of getting fired, especially in the current economy, isn't something to take lightly!
Another peril to consider is how the rest of the employees might take it. Sooner or later, you will eventually get caught, and nosey co-workers gossiping can make for a highly uncomfortable work environment. Discomfort aside (and the discomfort can be significant!), gossip can damage or wreck a career. This is especially true if the romance is between an upper-level employee and a lower-level one within the same department. There will certainly be people in the department who'll complain about favoritism and unmerited promotions. Lopsided liaisons between supervisors and subordinates can be especially dangerous, leading coworkers to feel resentment about unearned professional advantages, hindering team-building and good feelings the office might have had.
The repercussions can be significant for either or both parties in an office romance, not to mention for anyone else who believes him or herself affected by it. And if the relationship goes sour, the emotional hurt and professional fallout can make the workplace a truly miserable place to be. Jilted lovers seeking revenge and sexual harassment accusations are real threats that have the ability to ruin more than just a promotion opportunity. Breakups are bad enough without the added specters of lawsuits and unemployment.
So if you're considering having a relationship with someone you work with, have a thought for the consequences. It's true that sometimes the risk can pay off, especially if one of the participants has an exit plan. True love is hard to find, and when a dynamite partner just happens to be found where you work, and a serious exit strategy is discussed, the potential happily ever after might be of greater value than continued professional upward mobility. But most other times it's a whole lot more sensible to leave the office romances between the covers of romance novels where they can be enjoyed vicariously and without guilt or risk!
Written By:
Kai Cooper