Maybe you won’t find your soulmate downing shots at some shady bar. Maybe you won’t find your soulmate doing lifts at the gym. Maybe, just maybe, your soulmate sits opposite to your desk at work. Truth be told, office romance are a common thing nowadays. With the amount of time you spend with a co-worker, it’s natural to develop some kind of feelings for them. It’s also nice to have a constant support system at your workplace. The kind who’ll help you deal with stress and keep you motivated to show up at work every day. However, this excitement must be contained and not overdone. Losing your job because of an office romance is definitely not worth the risk. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind to have a smooth office romance and stay out of trouble. Read on!
Do’s
Dating a coworker? Read below the office romance rules one should below when dating a colleague at the workplace.
1. Check The Company’s Policies
Some companies have certain policies and guidelines related to engaging in an office romance. Make sure you read through these office romance rules before taking any step. After all, you don’t want to get fired.
2. Look For Hidden Agendas
Make sure you know your colleague enough before jumping into a relationship with them. Sometimes, they may be looking for a casual relationship only. It’s important to determine if there is an ulterior motive behind them approaching you. If you do find anything fishy, tap out. A rejected ppt is way better than dealing with a broken heart at work.
3. Keep it a secret
If you’re in a relationship with a guy from work, don’t tell a soul about your current love life. Trust me, the news will spread like wildfire. The less your boss and co-workers know about you two, the better. The last thing you want is your relationship to turn into the hottest piece of gossip at work.
4. Give Them Space
Don’t smother your man by asking him to keep meeting you for a coffee or tea break. Live and let live, in this case, work and let them work too. Don’t distract them from their job and give them space.
5. Focus On Your Professional Goals
While you are in office, you’re an employee first and a lover later. Ups and downs in your relationship with your colleague must not affect your performance at work. Your professional goals should be your first priority. The company’s targets shouldn’t suffer because of your personal life.
6. Think Twice Before Dating Your Boss
Firstly, he’s your boss. Second, he could use his power to ruin your career if things don’t work out. Plus, if the higher management gets to know that he is in a relationship with his employee, he could land up in a soup. You two may have to change departments or move to a new company if things get ugly.
7. Have A Social Life Outside Of Work
I can’t stress how important it is to have an identity out of work. Life doesn’t just start and end in the office with your lover and colleagues. There’s more to it! Post work hours, you can catch-up with friends and relatives. It will give you more to talk about in your relationship rather than your conversations only revolving around deadlines, usual workplace politics and gossip.
Don’ts
Make sure that you don’t break these office romance rules to keep yourself stress-free!
1. Don’t Break The Law
A sexual harassment case can not only affect your present job but also jeopardise your entire career. You can end up in jail if you break the law. Do not force your co-worker to be with you. Make sure the relationship is consensual.
2. PDA Is A Big No
Holding hands, constantly hugging or addressing each other by nicknames is a strict no. Act professional and respect the office environment. Don’t flirt with your partner all the time making your co-workers uncomfortable with the relationship. Just a warning, a colleague can even report your actions if at all it makes them feel uneasy. It’s best to make love to your man at home than in your office.
3. Don’t Overdo It
You must spend time with your colleagues and not just your significant other. Avoid the temptation to always have lunch with each other. Instead, have lunch with the team and be a team player. Don’t be that annoying couple everyone despises in the office. Go for breaks alone, spend time with other colleagues and work on your own goals. In a nutshell, learn to be independent and not clingy. The more comfortable you get with yourself and your work goals, the sexier you will appear in his eyes.
4. Don’t Use Professional Email Id For Private Conversations
The last thing you want is to get caught and have your bosses read out your private chats. Don’t send flirty messages or inappropriate selfies using your official email id. Be cautious about using corporate communication platforms for personal conversations. Use Whatsapp Web or FB messenger to send your sexy texts and selfies. Also, texting during work hours will bring down productivity too.
5. Don’t Make Out Or Have Sex In The Office
Most offices have CCTV cameras in every corner. The management keeps tabs on all their employees. Control the urge to get physically intimate with your partner in the work premises. Such fantasies sound good only in the movies. What’s even worse is that everyone is on their phones these days. Just one blackmail video clip is all it takes to get you two fired.
6. Don’t Have An Ugly End
Not all relationships have a happy ending. You mustn’t wash your dirty linen in public. Keep it professional and not cry it out loud in front of other colleagues. Keep your ethics intact. Don’t send nasty emails or try to sabotage their career. Don’t try to get even with your ex at work because it would be anything but professional.
7. Don’t Display Your Love On Social Media
It’s tempting to flood the internet with your lovey-dovey photos. PLEASE DO NOT DO IT! The moment it’s out on the internet, you and your lover will be bombarded with comments and heart emojis. You could get teased at work if you have your boss or colleague on your friend list. Allow the relationship to mature and turn serious before you tell the digital world. Just imagine that if things don’t work out, how many people you will have to be answerable to at work. Such an unfortunate situation can destroy your career and make you lose face at your workplace.
FAQs
1. Can Married Couples Work Together?
It depends on the kind of work that they do. Some have the mental capacity to do so and some don’t. Since you two live in the same house and go to the same office and work on the same floor, the relationship could turn suffocating. For a happy marriage, space and independence are essential.
2. Can You Get Fired For Dating a Coworker?
Read the clauses on the company’s policy first. Even if it is not mentioned, you could lose your job if you use your work hours to spend time with your lover.
3. What To Do If Your Co-workers Are Dating?
The answer is – nothing. Only talk to your manager if their actions make you feel uncomfortable. At the end of the day, you’re there to work too. Any external factor that disrupts your energy or productivity levels at work is not what you signed up for.
4. Should You Hide Your Relationship From Your Co-workers?
It depends. If you think you can deal with the gossip, attention and stares at work after telling them about the relationship, then go ahead and do it. I would still suggest that you keep it under wraps until things get more serious.
5. How To Work With Your Boyfriend In The Same Office?
Give them their space during work hours and try your best to focus on your own work. This will help you both to grow in your own spheres.
Images: Giphy
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