Should You Date A Coworker? Pros And Cons Of Dating A Coworker

Is it really a good idea to date co-workers? Everyone has certainly heard the phrase; ‘you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure’. 

But where matters of the heart are concerned, common sense can sometimes fly out the window.

To be honest, it’s not a crime or taboo to fall in love or crush on someone you work with.

It’s actually expected for you to catch feelings because you probably see this person every day or many times a week.

But is it worth it to have a workplace romance? Well, the choice is all yours to make, but if you decide to say yes and date your co-worker, here are a few things you must have in mind.

Dating In The Workplace Ethics

1. You And Your Work Boo Must Be On The Same Page

When you date your co-workers you both must have intentions and plan.

Are you both in it for the long run? What exactly do you expect from each other? Do you want to make your relationship known to the rest of your colleagues?

These questions must be answered before you both indulge in any sort of relationship or romance. Everybody must communicate exactly what they want and are feeling so as not to bring about unnecessary conflict.

Workplace romance gone wrong can become messy as it would affect not just your relationship, but your rapport with your colleagues and even your employer. It can also affect your performance level at work.

2. Ensure You’re Not Breaking Any Rules

Before you dive headfirst into an office romance, you should first be sure you’re not breaking any rules. If you’ve never read your employee handbook, now would be a good time to get to it.

In-office relationships are usually a major concern for employers as they can inadvertently lead to sexual harassment, abuse of power, and discrimination amongst other things.

This is why most employers not just frown at office relationships but have strict policies prohibiting them.

Some companies require any office relationship to be reported to HR. So, find out what the rules are first before starting anything that can cost you your job.

3. Prepare For The Worst Case Scenario

When you date your co-worker certain things are bound to happen no matter what. One, you would probably have to defend your relationship to your bosses if something happens. Are you prepared for that?

What if there are side talks about your relationship? If you’re dating someone in a higher level or position than you, are you ready to deal with backbiting rumors like you sleeping your way to the top?

What would you do if colleagues start to complain about your relationship with HR?

It’s certainly not going to be a sweet and cuddly ride throughout the relationship. Reality will eventually set in and you have to be prepared.

4. When Things Go Sideways, Stay Professional

I know in the beginning it seems like it’ll last forever and you were both made for each other. But let’s be realistic, things can go sideways pretty fast and it can also happen on a sour note.

So not only are you heartbroken, you’re angry. This becomes 10X harder when you have to come into work and see this person every day.

This is where you need to muster every bit of professionalism in you and act like nothing ever happened. You must refocus your energy on your career and what you want to achieve from it.

Should You Date Coworkers?

To be honest, no. Most dating coaches and relationship experts would not recommend any form of romance in the office.

Yes, I know some people actually find their soulmates at work and it works out well for them…. The truth is dating co-workers can also turn out to be a great thing. There’s no set-in-stone result or outcome from an office romance.

But before you go into it, you must ensure you have carefully weighed the pros and cons of dating a coworker. To help you make your decision let’s carefully lay out some pros and cons.

Pros And Cons Of Dating A Coworker

1. Pro: You are familiar with them.

Con: You can be too familiar with them.

Seeing and talking to this person every day is bound to generate a level of familiarity between y’all. But once you start dating that initial excitement and dopamine you get from relating with this person can die. And then you start to regret your decision.

2. Pro: You spend quality together.

Con: You spend too much time together

It’s all sweet and nice at first but later on, you will get tired of seeing their face every single second of your working day. It can get boring and you don’t get to miss them at all. In some other cases, it gets too distracting. Being in the same space with someone you’re pining for, can prevent you from getting the necessary work done.

3. Pro: The adrenaline rush from doing something forbidden.

Con: You can get fired.

No one can deny the thrill that comes from doing what you aren’t supposed to. But when it comes to office relationships the cost for the rush of a little adrenaline can be your job.

Dating Co-workers

There’s no relationship without ups and downs, however, a workplace relationship may have more downs than ups. This is why before you decide to date a coworker, you must first take into consideration all the dating in the workplace ethics- make sure you communicate, prepare for the worst-case scenario, and be professional.

You must also weigh all the pros and cons first. I hope every piece of advice given in this article can help you make a good decision.

Over To You

Do you feel like dating co-workers is worth the risk? Have you dated a coworker and it worked out? Let us know in the comments section @netwerkmovement. And don’t forget to share with anyone deciding if an office romance is a good idea.