8 Tips to Handle Office Romance

Workplace romances can lead to long-term relationships—and even marriage—but they can also result in uncomfortable situations for the people involved as well as their co-workers.Intertwining business and pleasure could result in an unplanned, unwanted job search, as people can get fired due to workplace relationships or be forced to resign because of a relationship gone wrong.

Here are a couple of tips to handle office romance if you ever get into one:

* Check the company’s policies

Before you begin a relationship with a colleague (or as soon as possible after it commences) take a look at the company policies about dating co-workers. Many companies, large and small, have hard and fast rules against relationships developing between co-workers. If it is against the rules, you have to ask yourself: Is it worth it?Depending on the company, your human resources department may need you to sign a contract, inform managers or co-workers, or follow other guidelines or rules.

* Be absolutely certain

Before entering into a relationship, make sure it's the real deal. Are you bonding over an intense project requiring late nights at work or shared frustration at a boss, or do you have a connection that extends beyond the office? Make sure you know the answer to that question before beginning a romantic relationship.

* Maintain professionalism

Don't let a romantic relationship affect the quality and efficiency of your work.You don't have to keep your relationship a secret, but you don't want to have it so on display that it makes your colleagues uncomfortable. Plus, if there is evidence that an office romance is affecting work, one or both of you may be asked to end your romance or, worse yet, find another job. Avoid sitting next to each other in meetings, having lunch together daily, or acting in general as a unit. Also, do not send personal messages using your work email or chat client.

* Avoid dating someone in a higher or lower position

Office politics and hierarchy should be top-of-mind, particularly when it comes to office romances.Choosing an entanglement with a co-worker—especially one at a different seniority level—could dramatically affect your salary or movement within your company.Office relationships are particularly problematic if one partner manages or supervises the other.

* Avoid romance and PDA in office

No matter how in love you feel, there should be no public displays of affection at work. Stick to the same professional behaviour with your significant other at the workplace as you would have with any other co-worker. That means no holding hands, no kissing, no affectionate nicknames, and definitely no supply closet liaisons.

* Address issues after hours

Never, ever fight or argue at work. Any personal disagreements should be dealt with outside the office.

* Plan for the worst

It is best to agree at the beginning of the relationship how you will handle a potential breakup. Avoid, at all costs, a messy breakup. It isn't just you and your partner who are involved, it's your entire office and the future of the company's dating policy.
If you do decide that one—or both—of you need to move on, do it on your terms. Start a job search before you have to and don't give your love life as a reason for leaving when you interview.

* Consider leaving the company

If the relationship does get serious, one member should consider a new position outside the company. That way, you can separate your career paths from the relationship.