We spend most of our waking hours in the office, so when cupid shoots his arrow between you and your workmate it’s tempting to jump in head first without considering the pros and cons. New research by Monster.co.uk has revealed half of British workers have dated a colleague, with 27 per cent of these leading to long-term relationships or marriage.
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With so many falling for their co-workers, Sinead Bunting, Monster.co.uk Marketing Director, recommends the top five things to consider before you begin dating your colleague.
Does your boss have a dating policy?
Our research shows office romances can last, but before you go on that first date make sure you’re aware of what your contract says. One in five UK companies has a formal dating policy in place, with a further 25 per cent considering implementing one when they hire someone new. A dating policy will usually set out guidelines for acceptable behaviour and make clear the repercussions of failing to abide by it, so it’s worth finding out if your company has one.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, as 65 per cent of employers say they would be happy for colleagues to date as long as they were aware of the policy in place and that they act accordingly.
Will it create an ‘atmosphere’?
While you may only have eyes for each other, don’t be fooled by thinking other people won’t be affected by your new-found romance. Of those that have dated a colleague, one in five (17%) said this created tension amongst their workmates and a third of employers (33%) said that office romances caused disruption within their organisation. Be mindful of these facts and proceed with caution – your day-to-day behaviour inside the office shouldn’t change just because your new flame is nearby.
Remember your other work friendships
Do you have other close friends in the office? It’s worth considering what the impact your new-found relationship could have between you and your work bestie. Thirty-five per cent of those who’ve dated a colleague admitted their romantic relationship had affected their friendships with co-workers. Whether consciously or not, some people can act differently to accommodate the new office dynamic, whether that be either acting more confident or far shyer, or simply stop making time to go for that lunchtime stroll with co-workers.
Will you be honest?
“Dating my workmate will be fine , we just won’t tell anyone until we have to.” How many times have you heard that? Half of Brits admit that a company policy hasn’t stopped them dating a colleague in the past, and yet you’re almost certainly not hiding it as well as you think; 48 per cent of UK workers said they’d discovered colleagues secretly dating. It’s really not that easy to keep a relationship secret, especially when you work in such close proximity to one another. Very few bosses (only four per cent) said they don’t agree with colleagues dating and 57 per cent said they’d turn a blind eye if they found out because it’s none of their business, so be sure you’re professional and honest and you’ll make less hard work for yourself.
Avoid risky business
Had a big fight with your partner? Save the arguments for home and make sure your relationship doesn’t impact your professionalism in the office. Think about how you would normally act with a colleague and apply the same rules. That goes for public displays of affection too. Your superiors will understand the office dynamic and are likely to see this kind of behaviour as inappropriate. Should your boss discover that you're more preoccupied with your relationship than with your job, you could damage your chances of a promotion or, worse still, risk your job all together.