1The Pros of Office Romances

There are several positives to entering into a romantic relationship with someone you work directly or indirectly with. When weighing your options you should carefully consider all of the pros in order to help you better balance your choices.

• Boost in Productivity

  A new relationship can bring with it increased feeling of happiness that can work towards an increase in your productivity in the workplace. When a person feels joy on a personal level, and the source of their happiness is located in their workplace, it can definitely cause an increase in overall productivity.



• Boost in Creativity

  If your job is one that requires a high level of creativity, you are certain to see a major boost in your creative spirit as you not only revel in the joy of a new relationship but also find yourself enjoying your time in the office more as it allows you the opportunity to spend time with your love interest.



• Boost in Morale

  Your morale can receive a great boost when you have a reason to look forward to going to work every day. Not only will you look forward to getting to the office on time, or even a bit early, but you are likely to have an improved overall attitude while you are in the office.



• Similar Career Goals

  Perhaps one of the best aspects to meeting your partner in the workplace is that you are likely to have similar career goals and aspirations. For a business professional who spends extensive amounts of time working it can be difficult to find a partner who is understanding and tolerant of your long work hours; however, it can be incredibly beneficial to your relationship if your romantic interest is a person who works for the same company and understands your need to meet deadlines and work those long hours.

2The Cons of Office Romances

While there are certainly several pros to an office romance, there are many cons to take into serious consideration.

• Against Company Policy

  Many corporations have strict policies in place that severely limit personal relationships between its employees. Be certain that you find out what policies may be in place before you and your love interest begin your relationship. While most companies do not have a zero tolerance, there are certain to be restrictions and limitations to the types of relationship that will be permitted.



• Dating A Subordinate

  Even if your company policy does allow relationships between coworkers, there may be policies and guidelines in place that specifically apply to dating a person who works directly for you. Dating a subordinate can lead to the impression of favoritism amongst others on your team, and could greatly jeopardize your personal relationship if you have to discipline or even terminate your love interest.



• If Things Turn Sour

  In the event that your relationship dissolves it may lead to extreme discomfort in the workplace; there can be a great decrease in productivity, morale, and simply just make things incredibly uncomfortable for both parties. You should sit down with your partner, prior to making the decision to even start up the relationship and discuss how to best handle your situation in the workplace. By taking the responsible steps to discuss the end of your relationship you will be able to avoid any discomfort and harsh feelings in the workplace.



• Risking Your Job

  Even if your company does permit coworker relationships there can still be situations that arise that have the potential to risk you losing your job. Keep affectionate displays to a minimum and ensure that every aspect of your workplace relationship closely follows your employer’s guidelines.

3Effective Office Romance Management

If you do find yourself involved in a romantic relationship with someone that you work with, there are several key steps that you need to take in order to ensure that your personal and your professional relationships run smoothly.

• Inform Your Human Resources Department

  Perhaps the most important step you need to take when embarking on a personal relationship is to inform your human resources manager of your relationship. Your HR manager will be able to let you know of any potential guidelines that you and your love interest will need to be aware of and follow. Your direct managers should also be made aware of the situation so that potentially uncomfortable situations can be avoided, especially in the unfortunate event that your relationship runs aground. Honest disclosure of your romantic involvement with a coworker will help to avoid any unpleasant surprises and potential reprimands from those in positions of authority within your company.



• Managing Office Gossip

  Office gossip can be the scourge of an office environment, providing the fuel for ill feelings and jealousy. By being forthcoming about your relationship with your coworker or superior you can effectively remove any gossiping that may crop up about the status of your relationship.



• Relationship Management

  Keep public displays of affection out of the workplace as they are simply not professional. Try, also, to avoid using your office email or instant messaging for private discussions with your partner. This is not only unprofessional to do, but it can oftentimes be against company policy to use company resources for personal use.

A workplace romance is not only convenient for many reasons, especially for an incredibly busy professional with limited opportunity to meet potential romantic partners, but it is a great way to meet a romantic interest with similar work and career goals. It is a great way to meet an understanding romantic partner who can remain tolerant of the long hours and overnight business trips that are all too common in today’s business world.