8 reasons: How office romances are bad for your career - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

8 reasons: How office romances are bad for your career

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Sep 02, 2014 07:10 PM IST

Sure, the flirting, glances and playful jokes can bring joy to a long, hard day at office. But truth be told, office romances have some big drawbacks. Imagine: mood swings, jealousy, boss trouble, office gossip and dilemma. This is how dating at work can be a recipe for disaster.

Workplace flings can be fun and sometimes successful too. But there are many things to consider before taking the plunge into an office romance.

Sure, the flirting, glances and playful jokes can bring joy to a long, hard day at office. But truth be told, office romances have some big drawbacks. Imagine: mood swings, jealousy, boss trouble, office gossip and dilemma.

Also read:

For instance, if you start seeing someone in office, who can you confide in? Should you try to keep it a secret? What if someone finds out? Is being honest about it from the get-go a better tactic? What are the consequences of breaking up with a colleague?

So, dating at work can be a recipe for disaster. Here's how.

1 Too much of each other: Which couple doesn't have a tiff? But that cold, hard glare she/he lets off can really burn a hole right through your brain, especially when you're neck deep in work. It's not easy avoiding each other in office. More so in a small office, where attempting to ignore each other till things get better is virtually impossible.

2 She's screwed, you're screwed: When things aren't going your way at work, the last thing you need is pressure stemming from your office flame. Worse, if she/he is having a bad day, guess who's first in line to hear all about it all day at work, then some more after work?

3 More of her/him, less of others, and you're the office outsiders: The more private time you spend together during office hours (and afterwards) the more likely you are of beginning to alienate your other office mates. Distancing yourself from your immediate associates, especially those you have a personal relationship with, is trouble in the long run.

4 Get close, and you're busted: Office gossip is one mean thing. If you're caught in an act of intimacy during office hours, be rest assured, your professional image has suffered a severe blow. Not pleasant in the least.

5 The power games: Dating a colleague (someone who enjoys the same status at work as you) is not the same as dating a subordinate or a boss. While competition and rivalry may harm your relationship with a co-worker, dating a boss may make you the butt of (false) accusations of favouritism. Getting romantically involved with a subordinate, on the other hand, can also raise some serious questions on the issue of sexual harassment.

6 Settling the scores: If you're the one who ended it, then she/he might want to make you pay. She/he might try making your work life hell and even go the extreme way and try to get you fired, one way or another. Think about it, if it's the other way around, and she/he is the one who ended it, you might attempt to seek revenge of your own. This can seriously harm your work performance.

7 Chinese whispers: If you gossiped about co-workers with her/him or badmouthed your present/future boss during your good times together, be rest assured, those comments are coming back to haunt you. You both had an understanding, you trusted each other, and that quite clearly isn't the case anymore. In fact, she/he, quite likely, is closer to others now. So, bam!

8 Moving on: Not all office relationships work out. The beauty of a normal breakup, which is clearly missing in an office fling, is that you no longer have to see the other person post calling it quits. Even worse, jealousy can take its toll when you see her/him flirting with other colleagues, going on lunch dates and ultimately living a life again, one that has no place for you. And that's going to hurt.

So there you have it. Unless you honestly think you can juggle your career and relationship at the same time, in the same space - the office - you might do yourself a favour by considering the potential outcomes, before beginning such a relationship.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Sanya Panwar is an online journalist with Hindustan Times. She writes on health, wellness, travel, fashion, relationships, films and pop culture.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On