Office Romances and Flirtations

As the greeting card companies force us to turn our thoughts to Valentine’s Day, we decided it was a good time to write about romance, flirtation and sexual innuendo in the workplace.

Careerbuilder.com reports that 40 percent of U.S. office workers have dated a colleague, and nearly one in three has married someone they met at the office.  One need look no further than our nation’s First Couple. Michelle and Barack met over the proverbial water cooler at the Chicago law firm where they worked.

It used to be that companies frowned on office romances, but in the wake of the 80-hour work week, that seems to have changed. Most large corporations have relaxed their rules about not dating coworkers, which means couples have come out of the closet about their relationships. Some 65 percent of office romances are now public, says Careerbuilder.com. As recently as six years ago, less than half that number would admit to it.

So like it or not, office romances are here to stay. Even if a full-fledged relationship doesn’t materialize, flirtation and advances happen. Here’s how to handle them:

• Avoid “PDA’s” (public displays of affection) – Hand-holding and juicy smooches have no place in the office.
• Don’t tempt fate – Watch your wardrobe and behavior, and avoid sending mixed messages which may be interpreted wrongly by someone you’re not really interested in.
• Stand up for yourself – Don’t let someone, including superiors, take advantage; express your discomfort or intolerance for their action.
• Forgive, but don’t forget – If advances are made, they may have been unintentional; don’t blow them out of proportion, but keep an eye open.
• Know when to ask for help – Advise a trusted higher-up; take legal action only as a last resort.
• Be tight-lipped – Don’t broadcast an incident to your friends, and if you should lose or leave your job over an office romance, you need not share it with job interviewers or employers.