Interoffice Relationships: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

Every now and again, we hear about happy couples that met at work. What we rarely hear about are those couples whose careers got sidelined because they made one or two wrong plays at the office.

If you are single, you know Valentine's Day comes around faster than the Christmas holidays. Sometimes you get lucky and the holiday falls on the weekend. But most times you have to endure a sea of red roses floating on top of the cubicles in the office. It seems like love is in bloom for everyone except you.

Temptation all around

If you work in an office filled with other young people than you know how tempting it can be to hook up with a co-worker. Hey, they're right there and you already have tons to talk about. What could possibly go wrong? Lots.

In an ideal world you'll work side-by-side on interesting projects. You'll spend every waking hour helping one other get ahead. Love is in the air and the sweet smell of success is all around. That is until one of you gets promoted and manages the other. Or one of you decides to call it quits before the other is ready.

It's rare that we enter relationships with the idea that things will not work out. But in the case of office romance, it's best to look at all possibilities before fully engaging in a relationship with a co-worker.

Know your company's policy on office dating

Many companies have formal or informal policies on office dating. If you'd like to keep your job, it's best to familiarize yourself with these policies before entering into an office romance. For example, your company policy may state that employees who are either involved or married to one another cannot work in the same department or supervise each other. Would you be willing to give up your job or leave your company in the name of love? For some, it may be a no brainer. However, if you work in a small town where employment options are limited, you might want to think this through before proceeding.

Gossip

If you are going to date in the office then be prepared for this to become a family affair. Others will be commenting about your relationship and may even offer unsolicited advice. If you think you are keeping the relationship under wraps, think again. Chances are you and your officemate's secret is widely known throughout the organization.

Judgment day

Consciously or subconsciously, your relationship could influence decisions that may impact your career. Your romance may color everyone's judgment with regard to promotions, projects, team building and responsibilities. If you want to be judged on your own merits, then look for romance elsewhere.

As we go through another Valentine's season we will surely read more stories about couples that met at work. After all, who doesn't love happy endings? But even perfect roses have prickly thorns. Before you accept a rose from a co-worker, know what you are getting into.