Why office romances will leave you broken-hearted or unemployed
With 40% of us having dated a colleague, there are an awful lot of flirtations and failed romances that start because of having an employer in common.
It all starts with the flirty eye glances. Then you really hit it off when you start talking to each other. Work can be a dull place and adding a little romance can seem like the only way to drag yourself to the office each day. But consider the consequences before escalating your flirtation to the next stage.
1. Invasion of personal space
You’ve done it, you’ve gone against all suggested advice and started dating a colleague and now you’re stuck with them. From nine to five you are forced to walk past them, talk to them, and if really unfortunate, sit by them. You may be getting sick of their ugly mug and find yourself wanting to leave more than just your work at the office.
2. Conversation shrivels into nothingness
When the relationship develops, you and your colleague, now partner, move in and that can be when conversation becomes rather dry, both inside and outside of work. “What would you like for tea?” or “have you seen, Jim got promoted?” could send the couple, as well as everyone else who has to listen to it, running for the hills.
3. You know all the same people
For many, work is a great place to meet friends and sharing the same friendship group wouldn’t be so terribly bad if you didn’t work, sleep and eat together.
4. It may not even be allowed
Have you actually considered that your workplace may not just frown upon your relationship, but may also fire you for breaching your contract. Workplace romances could lead to reduced productivity and inappropriate conduct in the office, so you can see why employers might not give you their blessing. Inter-departmental co-operation is approved of, but collusion and divided loyalties often are not.
5. Pretending you’re successful could prove difficult
When you first start dating someone, exaggerations are usually made as everyone pretends. Keeping up the appearance that you have a fun, interesting job that you love and are the person who keeps the company together is a little trickier when they can actually see that it’s a lie.
6. If and when it all goes wrong
Work is no longer just a place you dislike, but now one you dread. You start trying to hide round corners to avoid being faced with the walking reason for your sadness. How can you even begin to pretend you’re okay after a break-up when they can literally hear your sobs echoing from the toilet?
This will make things very awkward and one of you may even have to leave the job you have come to cherish. So before seductively glancing over at a fellow employee and starting something you could live to regret, think about why you shouldn’t.
