dating coworkers

Meeting the right person can be a frustrating process, especially if you do not know where to search for your soulmate. But suddenly, when the right person just happens to be someone you see on a daily basis in a place where you spend the majority of your time, things change. Finding love in your workplace can be extremely advantageous because you will always have something to talk about (work, of course) with your mate, and you will not need to travel out of your way to sneak in five minutes during the day to spend time together. But, is dating coworkers – a wise idea?

They say that you cannot help who you fall in love with. I believe that you also cannot help where you find the love of your life. Finding love at your workplace can be a risky move because there is a chance that your superiors will not approve of you being in a relationship with another employee. Do the benefits of dating a coworker outweigh the disadvantages? Here are some things to consider on the pro and on the con side.

The pros of dating coworkers

You can keep an eye on your mate

Do you have trust issues?  If you do, you are not alone. Plenty of women and men think constantly throughout the day about what their partners are doing when they are not together. Working in the same location as your partner might give you some peace of mind because you will not have to wonder where they are; you are both in the same location. You can carpool to work together, eat lunch at the same time, and give each other suggestions on how to impress your boss because you both know the culture at the company.

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It is easy to provide support

Sometimes, I do not like discussing what happens in my business with other people who I am close to because they do not understand the industry. How could outsiders possibly understand all of the players of the game when they have never met them? Even though I am mainly self-employed and work on my own terms, I remember when I regularly worked as an employee years ago at a company, and there were constantly tense office politics dampening the morale of the employees. Back then, I usually discussed what was happening at work with other people who worked there as well because they understand what I was referring to.

Being able to share your thoughts with your partner about your career – good and bad – will be such a comfort to you! Your partner should be able to understand your perspective because they are also working at the same location and they know who all of the players are. The two of you may not necessarily agree on everything; you might really like the company’s dress code policy while your partner may be totally against it. However, you will have someone close to you who can provide support at work and also in life.

The cons of dating coworkers

Your relationship might be tested

Working with your significant other is not always a dream come true. Most workplaces require that employees divulge whether or not they are related to other people who work for the same company. Some businesses take a proactive stance toward office romance and prohibit employees from dating one another. If you work at a place where your personal life is constantly being scrutinized by your coworkers and supervisors, then your relationship could be negatively affected.

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Being targeted by your coworkers can be very unsettling, and the tension that you feel throughout the workday could seep into your relationship. If things get so bad that you and your partner fear to lose your jobs, then you will definitely have important decisions to make individually and also as a couple. Eventually, you might need to leave your job, or, your partner will need to resign from his job in order to live peacefully.

Unfair treatment

Being accused by other employees of showing favoritism could be an issue if your mate is also your superior or, if you are the boss and your partner is your employee. Always keep in mind that how you feel about your relationship may not be the way that outsiders feel about it. Your coworkers could accuse you or your partner of giving each other advantages and promotions at work.

You might always feel a need to prove to your coworkers that you deserve to have your work measured by your efforts. The word “nepotism” might be thrown in your face, especially if you or your sweetheart is in a managerial position at work. Having to combat people’s doubts can be tiring. Also, in the unfortunate circumstance that your relationship ends, working with your former partner will be awkward. This can especially be uncomfortable for you if you and your mate are competing for the same promotion at work.

Working with your romantic partner at a workplace where you are both employees is different than if the two of you were to work together in your own business. When you work for an employer, you do not call the shots. You will have office politics and unsupportive coworkers to consider. Your relationship will definitely be tested if you work together. Is dating a coworker worth the risk? That depends upon the job and it also depends on the level of the relationship. I always say that if the person who you are with is the right person, then it is worth your while to give the relationship a chance in spite of the risks. Always remember to make sure that you spend quality time with each other away from the office; don’t revolve the relationship around your workplace. Focus on being each other’s best friends in and out of the office.

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Akua is a Canadian born and raised girl with Caribbean roots. She is a journalist, actress, music teacher, performer, owner and marketer of 3 worldwide dating websites, as well as an independent Pure Romance business owner selling passion products for singles and couples.

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