Is Workplace Romance OK?
Oct 12th, 2009 | Author: The Fly Guy | Category: Fly Perspectives
Comments (12)
“Wow, they’re pretty fly. I wonder if I can get to know them without my coworkers getting in my business.”
Sound familiar? Well it should, as eight million Americans engage in workplace romance every year. To delve even deeper into the numbers, 42% of those people have dated their boss. (I know, it sounds kind of trifling.) But what those numbers really do is force us to ask a very real question:
Is it ok to date someone at your job?
For some, the answer will always be a resounding, “hell no!” But for others, the answer is not so cut and dry. I mean, let’s face it; the temptation will always be there to date someone at your job, since you end up spending more time with them than pretty much anyone else in your life. So in that sense, I can understand the natural inclination to be drawn to someone at your job.
But what if the relationship doesn’t work? Does it then become weird around the office?
And what if your love life begins to conflict with the way people perceive your work performance?
These and other questions are addressed in the following MSNBC feature on workplace romance. In my opinion, there’s no clear cut answer to this question, so I’m actually looking forward to seeing your responses after you watch the video and vote.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Now that you’ve watched the video feature, take the time to vote on today’s Fly Poll Question.
The Fly Poll
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Its ok ! You just have to know how to handle yourselves professionally. I’ve dated this guy for 6 months and nobody knew.
See, that’s why I dont work with you Fly Guy. LOL, j/k :)
lol, that’s funny.
I think its okay as long as the two R mature & responsible. I have done that & its diffcult cause every1 is in your biz but what they kno depends on you. Ur relationship should be highly valued & respected & kept between the two of you
If you’re going to do it, then it may be best to initially keep it to yourselves. But at some point, after the relationship develops, I think you have to firmly step out and make it known what it is between the two of you. Get in front of the story, instead of having people whispering and wondering about the two of you…especially if it’s a situation where one of you is a subordinate.
Never at work!!!
Only if we worked for the same co but not in the same department. I always have to think in terms of
a) I need to be able to do my job and not be distracted by him
b) IF IF IF we stop dating, I need to not see him all the time
Sometmes you just let yourself do what feels good and what feels right, but I think it’s more mature to weigh it on the grand scheme of things. No way am I dating my boss or the guy in the cube behind me. I don’t wanna hang with my man all day at work. Go away, let me miss you!
I was actually hoping I could find a potentially decent woman in my line of work (military), but with each passing day, that is becoming less and less of a reality.
Never mix business with pleasure I always say. Especially if pleasure can fire yo ass if they get bored with you.
Its o.k. but usually some of your coworkers will hate on the relationship and if one person is a supervisor eventually someone needs to leave the company or ask for a transfer.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with adults engaging in a consentual relationship, regardless of the environment. The problem with office romances comes when the couple is feuding or the relationship fails completely. My ex-boyfriend was an Exec at the company I worked for. When we were good, it was great. When we were feuding, I was called into his office for impromptu “meetings” where he confronted me about our relationship. Luckily I didn’t report to him, but we worked together on certain projects. I remember one particular meeting where a colleague noticed his hostility towards me (we were on a “break”) and told me she’d handle the project so that I didn’t have to work with him. I think she knew what was going on. Because of that experience, I”ll probably avoid office romances with a superior in the future
Well my wife and I work for the company… So does this count as an office romance?