Dating a Co-worker?

Office romances are not a new phenomenon. Nowadays, many companies have developed policies on workplace dating due to the proliferation of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination suits.

Yet, longer working hours mean significantly more time is spent with co-workers and office romances are often inevitable. Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating, reminds singles that it’s important to practice “office dating etiquette” and shares tips below:

Don’t dish about your date. So you and a co-worker are dating. Even though you are wild about each other, you still do not want to risk your credibility with colleagues, superiors, subordinates or clients. Nor do you want to leave yourself open to manipulation, as the more that others, including subordinates, hear about your private affairs, the more ammunition they may have to discredit you. Keep your private life private.

Avoid dating subordinates. Dating a subordinate is taboo on so many levels, but with sexual harassment and discrimination laws becoming broader, the fine line of what constitutes dating has become legally blurred. How do you really know that a subordinate wants to date you and doesn’t just feel pressured to go along with your advances because you hold power? What happens when you break up? You still have to work together. Your subordinate may even seek retribution after a break-up by claiming sexual harassment.

Don’t date the boss. Dating a superior can drastically reduce your career advancement options in-house because superiors from other departments may not take you seriously any longer. And, to make matters worse, if you break up, you’ll still have to take orders from him/her.

Stay away from married co-workers. So, you are strongly attracted to a married co-worker who claims that he has spent so much time trying to get ahead at the office, that his relationship with his spouse has disintegrated. While you may sympathize, it doesn’t change the fact that he is still legally married. Having an affair with a married co-worker can hurt your career. It will be used against you at some point by co-workers seeking to gain an advantage over you, be it a promotion, award, raise, or new client.

Public displays of affection are taboo at work. Hand holding, hugging, kissing, calling each other pet names and so forth should be reserved for outside the office. And, by the way, forget about sending sexy emails to each other. Management and those in the IT department can and often do, read your emails.

Be aware of workplace “serial daters”. Think twice about dating a co-worker with a track record for dating his/her way through each department. This person is obviously not looking for a long-term relationship, but merely out there just to have a good time. If that’s all you’re looking for, go ahead. But, be aware that these workplace daters have a tendency to share a lot of information about those they date, accurate or not. Even if it doesn’t hurt your career, you risk public humiliation.

According to Falzone, “Singles involved in workplace romances need to use common sense. It is NOT okay to date a superior or a subordinate. If your company doesn’t have a policy on dating and you are dating a co-worker who is not your boss and who doesn’t work for you – good for you – just be sure to practice office dating etiquette.”