PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

People are now spending more and more time at the workplace, leaving little room for outside social interaction. In fact, we often spend more time with our colleagues than with our family and friends. Because of this, people often times start to develop feelings for another coworker within the workplace.

So what action do you take when you realize that you are attracted to somebody at work? Do you start dating that person? Or do you stay clear of such relationships? First things first – we all know that dating a coworker can turn into a sticky situation. In many companies, it is considered taboo. Although I don’t want to turn this into meaningless, technical advice, you do have to take company dating policies into consideration. Most companies won’t have any written policies against dating another colleague, but that doesn’t necessarily signify the green light.

You should always take precaution and understand the possible ramifications. For example, a big No No would be to date a subordinate. If you start seeing somebody that directly reports to you, conflict of interest will inevitably arise. Other workers might accuse you of giving your romantic partner more leeway or promotional advantages, regardless of whether you actually are.

If it just so happens that there is no company policy against dating another employee and that your significant other does not report to you, then by all means, go ahead. Do what you like, but be sure to maintain professionalism. Keep your romantic relationship and work relationship separate. Never get these two things mixed up because it will cause a great deal of negative speculation and possible negative work performance. For those reasons, you should always keep your love life private. This is especially true if you work in a small office space with a few coworkers (where everybody knows your business and where rumors get quickly circulated).

Keeping your love life private also entails leaving the PDA (Public Display of Affection) at home. You never want to get caught in that awkward situation of being seen by other coworkers, or even possibly by a supervisor. It will send the wrong message and make you look truly unprofessional. Separating your love and business life means just that. No if, and, or buts about it. Even if it’s a little innocent electronic love letter that you want to send, don’t do it. Company email is strictly for business purposes. The underlying rule is that company time means company business. If you can’t follow this straightforward direction, then maybe it’s not a good idea to date work partners.

In short, if you do decide to date a colleague (with the understanding that you are not violating any company policies), make sure you know what you’re getting into. Take the time to rule out any possible negative ramifications that could affect your work performance. More importantly, take the time to discuss these issues with your dating partner. If such a relationship is to be successful, you both need to establish an understanding of the two separate relationships formed: business relationship and romantic relationship. It’s not enough though to just understand this, you and your partner must practice it as well.

Courtesy: Elizabeth Nobukuni