If you ask a couple how they met, chances are they\u2019ll say one of three things: online, through friends, or at work. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that so many relationships begin at work. We spend a lot of time at the office\u2014at least 40 hours per week, in most cases\u2014and it\u2019s the perfect place to get to know someone. But what are the rules for dating a coworker?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once upon a time, it was easier to keep an office romance quiet. But in an age where we\u2019re uploading our every move to Snapchat and tagging our every location on Instagram, it\u2019s pretty easy to deduce who people spend their time with. If you\u2019re dating someone you work with, it\u2019s going to come out eventually. To keep your relationship happy and healthy, follow these rules for dating a coworker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Keep your relationship separate from work. 2. Don\u2019t think you can keep your relationship a secret. 3. Play by the company rules\u2026 4. \u2026and also set your own. 5. If you decide to go for it, be prepared for any possible outcome. 6. Know that people ARE going to talk about your relationship. 7. Be prepared to learn some things that make you angry. 8. Talk about it. Dating a coworker requires an extra layer of care, consideration, and communication. But if you\u2019re prepared to go the extra mile to make it work, follow these rules and you\u2019ll be happy at both home and work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To keep your relationship happy and healthy, follow these rules for dating a coworker.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":17651,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[884],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>This goes without saying\u2014and it encompasses a lot\u2014but we have to say it. One of the most important rules for dating a coworker is keeping things professional at the office. If you had a fight last night, don\u2019t lash out at your boyfriend during a team meeting. If you\u2019re feeling flirty, don\u2019t make out with your girlfriend in the conference room. When you\u2019re dating a coworker, you have to check your relationship at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>If you start dating a coworker, you definitely don\u2019t have to tell people right away; it can be your little secret for a while. But people WILL eventually find out. That doesn\u2019t mean you have to send a company-wide email announcing your love; you just have to be okay with the idea of people knowing about it. Even if you keep your relationship private, never leave the office at the same time, and don\u2019t post about your relationship on social media, someone will<\/em> find out. It\u2019s 2018, and these types of things have a way of coming out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>While many companies don\u2019t mind, some have strict policies around coworkers dating each other. Check your company handbook and make sure you\u2019re not violating any rules. Are you required to disclose your relationship to HR? Does it depend on what department you work in? If you find out that you can\u2019t date but you still want to go for it, it\u2019s important to know what you\u2019re up against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>Set some ground rules with your partner. Will you ever get lunch together? Will you ever leave work together? Will you ever arrive at work at the same time? How will you handle people asking about your relationship? These things are seemingly small, but they will come up, and it\u2019s important to put up a united front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>When you start dating anybody, there\u2019s always a chance you might break up. But when you start dating a coworker, there\u2019s a chance you might break up\u2014and still have to see them every day. You should both be 100% confident that you\u2019ll be cordial and respectful if the relationship ends. Otherwise, it could get messy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>There\u2019s no two ways around it. Even if you\u2019re in a healthy, loving, drama-free relationship, an office romance is still seen as something to gossip about. Just know that your coworkers are going to talk. They might pay too much attention to you, read too far into your every move, or pry for too many personal details. It\u2019s not the end of the world, but it will happen, so just be prepared for it and don\u2019t let them get to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>Normally, hearing about the behind-the-scenes details of your partner\u2019s office is no big deal. But when their office is also your office, you might hear some things that were said behind closed doors about salaries and hiring decisions that make you do a double take. Decide what you\u2019re comfortable hearing and go from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>Check in with each other and talk about how it\u2019s going. The key to any successful relationship is communication. With the added stress of balancing your job and your relationship in one, it\u2019s extra important to make sure you\u2019re both happy and comfortable with how things are going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n