According to our recent survey of young professionals, inter-office dating is pretty commonplace. The best example I know of a romance that began at work was recently cemented with a marriage proposal at a little ski lodge in Vermont. But not all office romances go so smoothly.
What are the biggest risks of kissing the cutie in the next cube?
Experience readers reported these:
1. Gossip. Oh yeah. If people at work know you are dating, you can bet they're going to talk about it.
2. Awkwardness. As one respondent from Bradley U. said, "I've seen many people date within the workplace and more often than not, it turns into an awkward situation for not only those two people, but their other work friends who are thrown into the middle of their tension."
2. Accusations of favoritism. If your office crush is your manager (or your direct report), don't even think about it.
3. Accusations of (post-break up) prejudice. "Whether it goes well or badly, it will impact office politics," one alum of Tampa U. told us.
5. Getting fired. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes, especially if you act in direct defiance of a workplace policy on dating, it could cost you your job.
Got any tales of your own true-life office romance? Any sordid stories of break-up fall-out, or careers turned upside down by love? On the flip side, can you think of any *good* reasons to date someone you work with, or tips for success if you happen to be hit by Cupid's arrow at an 8am meeting?
~Happy Valentine's Day~
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Is Your Valentine Sitting in the Next Cube?
Labels:
office romance,
survey results,
workplace problems
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3 comments:
I actually worked with my wife (girlfriend at the time) at as English tutors. It got a little harry at times when we disagreed on certain things and tried to keep the professional aspect around as much as possible.
Eventually, we found other jobs and our relationship became better. I would strongly advise against it, since situations like this can happen and the professional aspect can be hindered.
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
www.theprofessionalassistant.net
Well I have dated a guy that I worked with and it was not good at all. Too many people at work were in our business wondering what was going on with us. I even had this one female flirting with him because she had a crush on him and because they worked on the same team it was constantly being brought to my attention that she was flirting. We ended up not dating anymore but we are still friends. He no longer lives in the same state as me anymore either.
Really? I've dated people at the same company, and have watched others do so.
It really boils down to how into drama the individuals are. I just haven't seen it be a big deal or a problem at all. Yeah, some good feelings at one time, some bad feels at another - in the grand scheme, it all washes away a couple of months after any issue, such as the end of the relationship.
On the other hand, I work mostly with engineers, scientists, and people who have careers working closely with such. Maybe sales and marketing people are more mercurial!
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