Love at the office can get complicated, fast. Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book. Does it ever seem like the office is a hub for budding romances? Plenty of our favorite fictional couples certainly started out as office flirtations or coworker crushes. After all, most adults spend a third of their lives on the job; it's little wonder that sparks might fly with a cute colleague. While such romances are common, dating a coworker can disrupt office etiquette and create challenges in your work and love life.
Some workplaces even have strict guidelines prohibiting office romances. While online dating has changed how people meet romantic partners, the workplace still ranks as one of the top five places for heterosexual couples to meet. Office romances can work out, and there are no state or federal laws that say you can't date a coworker. However, your company may have policies regarding such relationships, so it is important to educate yourself about these guidelines before you pursue a potential relationship.
The relationship must be welcomed, consensual, and mutually agreed upon—otherwise, it might constitute sexual harassment, which is illegal. Keep reading to learn more about some of the dos and don'ts of dating a coworker. The first challenge before you date someone in the workplace is perhaps the most important; deciding whether it's worth the risk. Jumping into a whirlwind romance might seem romantic; the reality can be much less gratifying if you later realize you're all wrong for each other.
There are plenty of great reasons why people decide that dating in the workplace is worthwhile. After all, you spend the bulk of your day interacting with them, so you probably feel comfortable with them and have gotten to know them pretty well. Your initial romantic first impressions can be good predictors of how successful a relationship might be. Because you work together, you also have a well of shared experiences to draw you together. Such connections can give you plenty of stories and inside jokes that can help you bond outside of work.
Plus, let's be honest, it's often hard to find time outside of work to pursue other romantic interests. Dating someone you know, like, and get to spend time with each day can seem like a win-win. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't seriously consider some of the risks of dating a colleague.
