Despite what employers may mandate, today office romance is more prevalent than ever. More business travel, longer hours,
and little time to meet new people, outside the office, gives more opportunities for developing intimacy with people at work.
Like any other relationship, an office romance can go through the same spectrum of experiences – from the magical beginning to a heart-wrenching break-up. The only difference is that this saga will be played out under the watchful look of fellow colleagues and in a confined place. It's a path that can be fraught with water-cooler gossip, dangerous liaisons, or the possibility of enforced early departure – for one of you.
Like any Hollywood love story, workplace romance has its dramatic highs and lows. But, just make sure that it doesn’t get out of control. The rule is, when you're dating someone at work; keep the romance out of the office. It means acting like coworker and not lover, when in the office. If you cross the line or limit, you may really tick off your co-workers and end up with an uncomfortable work surrounding for you, as well as others. Sooner or later, a messy workplace romance ends up affecting the people around you.
To avoid such situation, you should make sure - Is your office romance true love or fatal attraction? Whether your office romance is born from a love-at-first-sight moment in the elevator or from long shifts spent working on the big sales presentation; it's game one and now you've to work out how to handle it. Since many people spend their live in the office, there's no wonder that the workplace is a fertile ground for finding love. But remember, you're putting both your heart as well as your job on the line, so stay away from any office Casanovas. And of course, the complete no-no is the fatal attraction towards the married person in the next cubicle!
However, you need to be realistic about your relationship while entering into an office romance because you don't want to leave the office littered with broken relationship. If you think that your office romance is a true love and not the fatal attraction, then it may be worth giving it a go, but test the waters carefully first. You should stay cool as well as professional, and not let it affect your work. Take things slowly and be aware of the possible consequences of your relationship – not merely for yourself, but also for others at work. You could be lucky and have a fairytale ending with Princess or Prince Charming by your side, but that's just the beginning of the story. Flirtation at office may be difficult to manage, but after the marriage bells rings, well, that's different story!
