Workplaces filled with Love

Workplaces Filled With Love

Almost one third of respondents to a CareerOne.com.au survey have admitted to being romantically involved with someone they work with.

Of those who found romance at work, 35 per cent describe their liaison as short term, 31 per cent long term and for five percent office romance led to marriage.

The survey, completed by 941 respondents, also found more than a third had been “intimate” with a colleague in the actual workplace and only 6 per cent of those were caught.

In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, editor of CareerOne.com.au, Kate Southam highlighted the importance of managing workplace relationships. “Our survey showed that 44 per cent of respondents who had been in a workplace relationship knew how to separate their personal and professional relationship so had no qualms about hiding their relationship in the early stages.

”That is important because sometimes office romances fade making for potentially awkward situations at work. If the break-up is managed poorly, this can irritate co-workers or reflect badly.”

Ms. Southam offered the following rules to stay on the light side of work and love.

“Try not to involve yourself with a direct team member. Interdepartmental relationships at least provide a little distance to ensure if things go wrong, you do not have to interact every day.

“Common stresses, goals and challenges can bring people together but it doesn't mean they will stay that way. If you meet a colleague on a joint project and the attraction is instant, test it over time before outing yourselves at work.

“If it does work out in the long term, separate work and home. Your colleagues do not want to hear you snipe at each other, nor do they want to see you being outwardly affectionate.”

Kate also offers advice for managers of those in a workplace relationship.

“Tread very carefully, particularly with issues of extreme confidentiality. Also, don’t be afraid to provide feedback and let those know who manage the workplace relationship well that they do so.”