How to Keep a Workplace Relationship a Secret

Although honesty is usually the best policy, that isn't always true with office romances. When workplace relationships are forbidden, it may be best to keep yours a secret to prevent either one of you from getting fired.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid talking about your romantic relationships at work. If someone asks about your love life, it's okay to admit you're seeing someone. Do not, however, elaborate on your love life if asked, as you will be more likely to slip up and say something.

2. Keep up appearances. If you were office friends before your relationship, keep that level of friendliness to avoid arousing suspicion. Continue talking about the same topics, and don't allude to any weekend plans the two of you might have had unless you frequently saw each other outside of work before you started dating.

3. Watch where you look. You may unconsciously be more likely to look at your workplace lover now that you're dating her, but others will start to notice. Focus your attention on work and your other co-workers instead.

4. Stay professional, especially if the two of you work on the same team. Carefully avoid inside jokes, but remain friendly as you would with any other co-worker. Consider not sitting next to your boyfriend to avoid unconsciously touching one another.

5. Discuss your relationship with each other and friends outside of the office. Be sure everyone knows it's a secret to people in the workplace, lest someone accidentally tells one of your co-workers without your knowledge.

6. Come up with a contingency plan in case you two are seen by a co-worker snuggling in a public place. It may be best to let that person know what's going on. Hopefully your co-worker won't make your lives difficult.

7. Develop a plan to make your relationship public. Secret workplace relationships are nice, but keeping a secret for a long time isn't a great solution. If your office doesn't allow interoffice dating and the two of you are becoming serious, one of you should look for employment elsewhere.

Tips & Warnings

• Be willing to talk about the secrecy of your workplace romance with each other. It can be stressful to not share a part of you with your co-workers, especially if your team is close.

• Talk about what will happen if the two of you break up. You want to make sure your office relationship is secret far after the end to avoid consequences. Promise each other you will not gossip to your co-workers about your relationship's demise.

• Don't try to sneak away for private moments at work. Your co-workers and boss will catch on, no matter how careful you think you are being.