Office Romances – Yay Or Nay?

Oct 23, 2015 1 Min Read
Alt

LDR-PDF-download-110x110

LOVE blinds. Love takes a person and makes them the world – the perfect world. Then it all comes crashing down when they find you both inside the janitor’s room.

Office romances are perhaps to, put it plainly, romances that happen while you are working, but with the added risk of being caught by your supervisors.

While a lot people say you cannot stop love, being involved with someone, especially someone who is already in a relationship, can lead to a lot of trouble on both sides of the divide.

Office romance

Case in point is Brian Dunn; the ex-chief executive officer of the electronics megalith Best Buy. Three years ago, he was suspected to have been involved with a female employee and whose “extra time” he could not explain.

Romances in the office can be risky business and often, office regulations have clauses that are put in place to prevent it. It still happens, but how do you deal with such things?

What do you do when things heat up? Take to heart the case of Dunn and the lessons it offers you.

If possible…

Try to avoid office romances as much as possible, as it can put you in a legal position that you do not want to be caught in.

It can be made more complicated if your partner is someone who is involved with other people in the office, or has a significant other who works there.

Politely convey your boundaries so that it does not escalate to the height of Dunn’s. Better yet, make sure it is nipped in the bud before any romance has the chance to blossom.

Keep your position clear and simple and, while office gossip is inevitable, avoid playing the role of office gossip, which can lead to stressful consequences for others.

But…

If this is a potential romance that is leading somewhere, take a good hard look at the relationship because, many times, it is not worth it. Unless you want to end up investigated or become hot office gossip, don’t do it.

Keep these interactions to a minimal and develop professional relationships with those who can further your career, but without any romantic implications.

Healthy relationships are ones that have open communication, trust, and honesty. If you must become involved in an office romance, think very carefully of the implications before doing so.

Finally…

Grow all relationships. Nurture them. But keep the office romances to a minimal. Your work will flourish in healthy, open relationships, not ones bound by secrecy.

Especially if you are in a high position, these sorts of affairs, much like Dunn’s case, can lead to losses for the company and perhaps more alarmingly, it reflects your sense of morality.

After you lose touch with your professional standards, it can be hard to bounce back.

Drop us a line or two in the comment box below or email us at editor@leaderonomics.com. For more Try This articles, click here.

Share This

Personal

Alt
Sara firmly believes that learning is a two-way process between a student and a teacher, and that everyday heroes are just as important as superheroes.

You May Also Like

A woman sitting, listening to music on headphones, resting

If You Have 20 Minutes a Day I Guarantee a Miracle in Your Life

By Terry Small. Rest is vital for brain health and self-care. Discover how to reclaim rest in a busy world and nurture your mind and soul.

Sep 24, 2024 2 Min Read

Tall trees jungle (Starting Late)

The Benefits of Starting Late

Shashi Kesavan, Head of Strategic Projects at Leaderonomics, discusses the benefits of starting late and the importance of self-awareness at these crossroad moments.

Apr 25, 2022 24 Min Podcast

clarity

Two Signs to Find Clarity In Your Life Direction

Are you at a crossroad where you need clarity for your life direction? While we cannot control every element in our lives, there are two signs that you should be alert to. Watch this video where you can learn about these intersections and how you can find clarity in your life

Feb 28, 2022 1 Min Video

Be a Leader's Digest Reader