How to Survive Office Romance
On average, we spend more than half of our waking hours at work. It should come as no surprise that many office workers find themselves looking in the next cube over for romance. But surviving an office romance is tricky business, as they have their own specific hazards, both during the relationship and when (if) it ends. Be warned: the price you pay may be professional as well as emotional.
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Instructions
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Decide if It is Worth It
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1
Be rational. The time for clear-headed decisions is before you are beyond the point of no return.
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2
Find out the official and unofficial office policies regarding dating a co-worker. It's a bad idea to start an office romance having to hide it.
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3
Ask around about your potential soul-mate. Find out if they have dated anyone else in the office. If they have a habit of hooking up and breaking up, you might want to re-think things.
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4
Weigh the pros and cons of this office romance. Sure, they might "complete" you, but what good does that do you if you get fired because your personal life gets in the way of doing your job? How "complete" will you feel unemployed?
Making It Work
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5
Be rational. If you notice that this is a repeat from section 1, it's not a mistake. It might not be spontaneous or romantic, but setting a few guidelines early will help both of you survive intact. For instance, you should agree on how much physical affection is appropriate at work (by the way, less is always better).
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Don't discuss your relationship with anyone else at the office. The last thing employers want is a turf-war over friendships when (if) the office romance sours.
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7
Respect your significant other's boundaries as well as your co-workers'. Keep work and romance separate as much as possible. This one is tough, and it's really the central issue.
Picking Up the Pieces
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8
Keep your dignity intact. Be professional. Smile at your ex, even though you may hate them for how they treated your mother at Thanksgiving dinner. Being the bigger person really pays off.
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9
Stay discreet. No one needs to know what happened, or why you broke up.
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10
Forego revenge. Sure, keying their car or crashing their computer right before the big presentation sounds fun, but when something like that happens, you're going to be the prime suspect. So don't stoop to that level.
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Tips & Warnings
Stay clear of dating a direct subordinate or your boss. These almost never go well, and are usually expressly forbidden by most companies.
Never exchange personal messages on company computers. E-mail, cell-phone texts and instant messages can all be viewed by your boss.
