Articles & Advice

Most people don't go looking for love near the water, but because of longer work hours, most employees spend more time at the office than they do socializing outside of it. If you feel a connection with a coworker, it is important to consider the consequences before making a move. Your employer could see the relationship as a distraction to other employees, while your coworkers may think the relationship is unfair because it could lead to favoritism. The situation can also become sticky in a small office where people tend to work closely together and where workplace gossip is common. In a larger company, it may be beneficial to switch departments before beginning to date someone you're on the same team or project with. If the relationship does succeed, remember that unlike other relationships you've had with a partner outside of the office, you'll be seeing this person day in and day out, with little time to yourself to get away.

Licensed marriage and family therapist Rebecca Roy, who is the featured therapist on MTV's Run's House, says that dating a coworker is not the absolute no-no it used to be, but if the person you are looking to date is your supervisor or your supervisee, it is not generally a good idea. "We have all been in offices when it ends, and it's usually not pretty," says Roy. "If, however, you are on the same level, don't work for each other, and are sufficiently mature, you can negotiate this relationship. Roy advises taking the following measures to ensure that a relationship will work at work.

- Talk openly and honestly about the implications of the relationship on your work environment and possibly on your career.

- Agree to keep it very professional in the office. Don't air your dirty laundry in the office. Get a therapist or talk to someone not affiliated with the office in any way.

- Make a decision about how you will handle the situation should the relationship break up, and then discuss this openly.

- Decide if you would be willing to get another job for the sake of the health of the relationship. If so, this is usually the best course in the long run.

- If this is just a fling, make sure it's worth it and that you are willing to take the heat when the time comes.

If you find yourself making a decision about whether to date a coworker, do what feels right, but don't forget that this personal decision can quickly become a professional one as well.

Next: How to Conceal an Office Romance