As long as there have been offices, there have been office romances. These range from tawdry boss-secretary affairs to fellow cubicle-ites holding hands in the break room. And given that spectrum, is dating your coworker
sometimes acceptable, or is it always a big no-no?
At ESPN, at least, office romance weighs in as a no-no of medium size.
The network held a meeting last week at its headquarters in Connecticut to review the company's policies on office relationships. ESPN has no rule forbidding employee romance, but an executive
told the New York Post that the network will "take appropriate action" if a relationship becomes problematic—like, say, when a 22-year-old production assistant begins harassing her 46-year-old married ex-boyfriend
and his family. That's what happened with Steve Phillips, a former ESPN analyst, and Brooke Hundley, a former production assistant who took some notes from Glenn Close
à la Fatal Attraction after Phillips tried to break it off. (I say "former," of course, because both have been let go from ESPN.)
Now, the Phillips-Hundley fling seemed doomed from the start. There were gaps across the board—in age, corporate hierarchy, and (ahem) marital status. But not all office affairs are so fraught with peril. I perused an
article in Glamour for some helpful recommendations on dating in the workplace:
Most important, if you're going to date a coworker,
make sure that your connection is deeper than just work. Your job might be duller than dull, but entangling your love life is no way to jazz up the workday experience. Office flames should be people you'd date in the real world—people who just happen to work with you.
Next,
keep the flirting, drama, and—of course—sex out of the office. Allow your relationship to intrude on nine-to-five time, and you risk looking unprofessional, annoying your coworkers, or getting caught doing something other than copying in the copy room (and, um, fired). But even if you're keeping your relationship private, Glamour recommends disclosing it to your boss once things get serious.
And finally,
carve out some friend-time and alone-time in your schedule. Dating a coworker means you see them 40-ish hours a week on top of your usual dating rituals. Avoid overdosing by making sure your social life remains diverse—and with some built-in downtime.
Have you ever had an office romance? Is it a good or bad idea?
Comments (10)
Yes, he was my supervisor but I was only working there temporarily. I knew him before he offered me the job and the affair started after I accepted the position.
It's usually not allowed in most corporate environments to separate personal feelings from business obligations. It is sometimes set in the company policy.
I personally feel if it does not affect your job performance, work interaction or evaluation than it's okay to have the relationship so long as it's not a frequent occurrence.
lol bad idea. did you watch the Entourage episode when ari's buddy was seeing his coworker and left his wife?
If the couple is mature and knows how to act and niether one is on that jealous status then i think it could work out BUT if one is jealous and they cant help but touch and flirt and act a fool like they are at home then no it wont work out. people need to learn how to keep it seprate when it comes to work and social life.
i had a romance with a co-worker, he wasn't a supervisor, he was just an employee like me. at first, it was so hot sneaking around until everyone started to ask questions if i was seeing him and we both denied it. it was hard to keep it under wraps when he sits on the other side of the cubicle. but i enjoyed it all the way up until i wanted more than just a simple work romance and then it ended. it was hard seeing him every day and working with him. at times, i just wanted to cry but i couldn't until i went home after work. this is the first and the last one for me. it did a number on me and it made it difficult for both of us to work.
We have rules against that at my work.
I am in sorta a relationship with a coworker. He is not my supervisor or anything (well, at least not usually...just for one month out of the year). It is wierd, because during the day when people are around and all, he is just normal, kinda an asshole...but then when no one is around, he is very sweet and affectionate and smiles a lot. We find ways to sneak off and hug and just be together (nothing too much, but if we got caught, it would be bad as it is sorta an affair type thing...). It is kinda a rush to be sneaking around. It is completely out of character for both of us, I never was one into kissing places other than a car or house...But still...
If it wasn't an affair situation, I don't know how my boss would look at it. He is pretty strict about people not dating...however there is one couple who work at the same level. Another lady just left because she was dating her supervisor.
I see nothing wrong with it unless you are being immature and being all over each other in front of other workers.
I don't know anyone who dated at work, but I dont' think it's a good idea.
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I haven't had office romance yet. I've seen plenty of office romances (even marriage) turned ugly.
I think it's better to keep it off from the office =T
I have never had an office romance. :p I think that for the most part, its just asking for trouble the majority of the time. Plus, a lot of people don't really bother to learn whether or not their company has a policy or any rules about office dating. Or, if they know, they don't take into consideration the possible risks or how strict the policy/rules about it are. Not everyone is like that, but a lot of people are, and it just makes extra problems on top of the ones that would already be there.
Plus, if you work closely with each other, then it would be adding the extra risk of possibly being uncomfortable around each other at work or making your co-workers uncomfortable you, or both, if things go bad and you break up.
So, while I can see the temptation by many angles to date the hot guy in the cubicle next door who is just so funny and interesting, it still just isn't a great idea. :/ At least, that's how I see it.
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