5 Tips for Office Romance Etiquette
January 29, 2015
With boxes of heart-shaped chocolates filling the shelves at every grocery store, and carts filled with red roses at every florist’s stand, Valentine’s Day is a day that is hard to go unnoticed.
In the busy lifestyles that we all lead, it’s no surprise how many romances begin at the office water cooler. Although romance is in the air this time of the year, it’s good to keep a few etiquette cues in mind if you ever find yourself in an office romance.
Play by the rules
Find out what your company’s policies are on the topic of office relationships. Some companies are more traditional and have zero tolerance when it comes to “fraternization,” whereas other companies are more lenient.
Watch your PDA (public displays of affection)
You’re at work, not on a date. While it’s tempting to flash a smile across the boardroom, public displays of affection are inappropriate in a business setting. Bottom line: hands off until you’re off the clock! Engaging in PDA is rude to your fellow coworkers and it also shows a lack of professionalism and respect for the organization.
Skip the love notes
Companies put a lot of time and resources into building their employee’s communication skills to ensure they are able to be productive and efficient in their work. However, when it comes to communicating romance in the office, its best to stay away from in-person and online “intimate” conversations.
As tempting as it is to send a quick and flirtatious e-mail to your office sweetheart, remember that you are on company time and companies have access to employee e-mails. The risk of accidentally sending a department-wide e-mail that was only intended for your new love interest is a scary thought! Getting the “pink slip” for this reason is simply not worth it.
Keep it quiet
Revealing to a colleague why you’ve had an extra twinkle or two in your eyes may seem innocent, but be careful when it comes to discussing any details about your office romance. If you really need to share, be very careful in choosing your office confidante. If you have decided to go against your company’s dating policies, we strongly recommend keeping the details of your relationship to yourself. Gossip spreads fast, even in the most modest and conservative offices!
When sharing any relationship details, keep in mind that the other person in the relationship is also your confidante’s coworker. Think about how work relationships would be affected by sharing details of your love life with coworkers.
Keep your distance
Being within close quarters of each other at work can be an invitation for trouble. Requesting a department change for one of you might be the best option. The goal is to keep everyone in the game happy – especially the company.
If you work in separate departments, keep it this way. While keeping each other company during lunch is okay, frequent water cooler or restroom breaks will raise eyebrows.
Though there are complications to consider before you commit to an office romance, it can be an exciting time of your life. Especially during this time of year when love is in the air!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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