When business and pleasure get intertwined, it can cause trouble on the job. You don't want to have to start a job search because you lost your job because of a romantic relationship at work. Despite the fact that you might be madly in love, you don't want to have getting fired or being forced to resign as part of your employment history.
First of all, be really careful about your relationship and keep the boundaries of your relationship strictly professional at the office.
Secondly, if you do decide that one - or both - of you need to move on, do it on your terms. Start a job search before you have to and don't give your love life as a reason for leaving when you interview.
Here are more tips on handling an office relationship - without it costing you your job - from Peter Handal, the president, CEO and chairman of Dale Carnegie Training:
Check the company's policies. Before launching into an office romance, be clear on the company's policies regarding office relationships. Many companies large and small have hard and fast rules against relationships developing amongst co-workers. If it is against the rules, you have to ask yourself: "Is it worth it?" And, if it is, be discreet and prepare for any consequences.
Maintain decorum and professionalism. It's a good practice to keep your social and business lives separate and that means not letting a romantic relationship affect the quality and efficiency of your work. When it's an office romance, the stakes are even higher. If there's evidence that an office romance is affecting work, one or both of you may be asked to end your romance or, worse yet, find another job.
Avoid dating someone in a higher or lower position. Office politics and hierarchy should be top-of-mind, particularly when it comes to office romances. Choosing an entanglement with a co-worker - especially one at a different seniority level - could dramatically affect your salary or movement within your company. Avoid unwanted scrutiny and drama by avoiding dating those with whom you regularly work.
Save the romance for out of the office. Absolutely no public displays of affection at work. Maintain proper distance and save the romantic acts for locations that are not often visited by co-workers.
Address issues after-hours. Never, have or bring fights or arguments to work. Any personal disagreements should be dealt with outside the office.
Plan for the worst. Agree in the beginning of the relationship how you will handle a potential break up. Avoid, at all costs, a messy break up. It isn't just you and your partner that are involved, it's your entire office and the future of the company's dating policy.
Consider leaving. If the relationship does get serious, one member should consider a new position outside the company.
Related: Forced to Resign or Fired? | Best Job Search Tips | How to Handle an Office Romance
Image Copyright Getty Images Henrik Weis
Office romances rarely turn out positive for both parties. And, working in a company where there’s romance in the air can be equally unsettling. I’ve never forgotten how I felt when I took my boss and an employee w/whom he was having an affair to a business meeting.
The tension in the room was palpable – to everyone.
I have witnessed a office romance over the past two to three years. It has not gone well from the start. Fights, disagreements, public displays of affection, lude behavior. These are just to name a few. I do not believe this kind of romance can ever end well especially when the relationship includes boss and employee. A air of entiltement and resentment occurs, causing such a rift in the everyday workings that an efficient, well run office is impossible to have.