Is Dating a Coworker Acceptable?
Dating
a coworker might be risky, which is understandable. Their personal and
professional lives should not be mixed together because issues that develop in
one can affect the other. But what if you're madly in love with someone at
work? What if this was the love you had been looking for your entire life? If
you never try, how will you ever know? These thoughts do cross your mind, and
the only way to find out how cold the water is to drop your toes in.
Aside
from all the hullabaloo, dating a coworker is OK as long as your employer's
policy doesn't forbid it and you establish clear ground rules with your partner
straight away. Additionally, if your partner is younger or older than you,
check to see if they are mature enough to handle the power disparity because it
can be a slippery slope.
Keep It Private
Do
not immediately start informing everyone at work about your relationship as
soon as you begin dating your coworker. Wait until you know your partner better
and are certain that you two are committed enough to invite your coworkers into
your private space. Whenever possible, refrain from PDA on social media at the
beginning of your relationship.
Maintain A Professional Attitude
Be
close and flirtatious all you want, but not at work. Because you don't want
your relationship to affect how well you do at work, always act professionally.
Make time to spend outside, but avoid talking about work while you're there.
Avoid bringing personal conflicts to the office
Even
if you're dating a coworker, you may maintain a separation between your
personal and professional lives. Make it a rule that you will not bring anger
from a fight with your partner to a business meeting. Nobody enjoys working in
a setting with high energy.
Stay Concentrated
When
at work, give your all—mentally and physically. When you're dating a coworker,
your thoughts could occasionally stray to the two of you. However, stop this
behavior immediately for a balanced approach to work and love. Instead of
becoming each other's distraction, your aim should be to advance one another
both personally and professionally.
Instead of email, use texts to communicate
If
the two of you ever decide to break up and a claim of sexual harassment at work
is made, refrain from sending seductive emails since these might be used
against you in court. You probably don't realize how typical this is in working
relationships.