Office romance is alive and well. Not surprising considering how much time we spend at work these days.
Nearly 40% of workers have dated a colleague at some point in their career, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey. And one-third of those relationships end in marriage.
But what happens if your office relationship goes sour? Is dating your gorgeous colleague really worth the risk? And, what if that person is your manager or junior – or even more complicated – married? Are you required to disclose this relationship to the company?
For Kelly Finn, principal consultant with Boston-based talent acquisition firm WinterWyman’s Information Technology division, it made sense to keep her budding relationship quiet at first. Finn met her future husband while they were working in different divisions at WinterWyman.
Finn recommends telling senior management when the time feels right. “Assure them it will not affect your performance at work, and that you will handle the relationship professionally in the office,” she said.
But not everyone chooses to kiss and tell. One third of workers who have had an office romance kept their relationship a secret at work, according to the CareerBuilder survey. “Whether or not you choose to keep it a secret, it is important to be discreet, professional and treat each other as colleagues at the office, and not as romantic partners,” said Chicago-based Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder’s chief human resources officer, in an email. “Give each other some physical space and respect your fellow employees.”
Rare is the worker who actually reads the company handbook. But if you are about to embark on a relationship with a colleague, this would be the perfect time to take a look at it. That way, you will know if there are any official guidelines on office romance.
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