How to Recognize the Dangers of Dating a Supervisor

This may be your perfect partner--funny, sensitive, into problem solving, free of drama. Too bad this person is your supervisor. The most challenging interoffice dating situation involves supervisors and their employees. If you recognize the dangers before you head into a relationship, you can make sure you're ready to handle the pitfalls that can come with such a partnership.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Understand what might happen if you reject your supervisor's advances. It may be uncomfortable between the two of you for a while. Being prepared for that possibility will make stopping things before they start even easier.
2. Think about your career. Dating a supervisor to get ahead might work in the short term, but if you break up later on, you might have to abandon your path at your current company.
3. Consider the effect of your relationship on your supervisor's career. While managers aren't usually fired for dating subordinates, it can affect their reputations within the company and make getting promoted difficult.
4. Decide how your workplace romance with your supervisor will affect your relationships with your colleagues. Many co-workers will assume you're sleeping with the boss to get ahead. You may damage your relationships with them unless you were close friends before.
5. Think about what you will write on your resume if you are fired or leave your job before you're ready because your relationship with your supervisor went sour. If you can't come up with a good way to transition out of your current job, it may be best not to date your supervisor at all.
6. Consider how your reputation in your field will be affected by your office relationship. Most career circles are pretty small, and dating a supervisor could close off some opportunities for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Recognize that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome if you date a supervisor. If you can't avoid it, consider meeting with a consultant to minimize any issues that could crop up or potential dangers as your relationship blooms.
• Find out what your company's interoffice dating rules are. Just because you're dating the boss doesn't mean you are exempt from the rules. Knowing the rules thoroughlymight can help you stave off any potential dangers and possibly make you think twice about your blossoming relationship.
• Don't show affection for each other at work. Nothing says "I'm sleeping with the boss to get ahead" like your co-worker catching you making out the day of a big career-making presentation. Even if your motives are the purest, recognize that putting yourself into these situations is uncomfortable for everyone.

Who Can Help:

• Earn an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix
• University of Phoenix, degree Programs to Fit Your Life.