Office Romance

(Wolf) Whistle While You Work?
You Betcha!

Even though it’s often advised against, dating people you work with makes practical sense—after all, we spend so much of our lives in the office, there’s often no other way or time to meet anyone else. But that’s not to say you don’t have to be smart—extra smart, in fact—about your choices, and take special precautions if you’re going to venture into an office romance.

The one overriding warning worth heeding—the one that should dictate all of your actions and words—is this: People talk. No matter how friendly your co-workers are, or how tight-lipped the object of your affection seems, secrets are almost always spilled, one way or another, whether accidentally or intentionally. Translation? Say nothing and do nothing that you do not want everyone else to know about. This means no chit-chat with the girls at the water cooler about his size or performance, and no pillow talk with him about how much you loathe your boss, and can’t wait to take over his or her job. There’s too much at stake—like, your livelihood—to take risks, and there’s too much to lose—like a potentially great love—not to give it a shot.

Some advice to make dating co-workers easier:

1.    Don’t mix business and pleasure on company time. Agree to date out of work hours, but don’t turn a business lunch into a romantic lunch.

2.    Stay fair. Don’t give someone you’re dating better work or pay, and don’t punish someone you’re breaking up with by giving him or her worse work or pay. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit!

3.    Make sure he or she is actually single. If they’re not – then keep personal remarks at work limited to sports, the weather and the kids. Don’t gripe or listen to gripes about a spouse. “I’m sorry, I’m not comfortable talking about your wife – I want to keep our relationship all business because I value us as co-workers,” is all you need to say – and do.