Dating someone from work is…. Messy. To start off, if you happen to be reading the vibe wrong and pursue someone who isn’t interested then things at work will definitely get awkward with that rejection. The next obstacle is work’s policy about relationships. You may have to sign forms or it could be forbidden depending on the department or if one of you holds a superior position. Signing a document two weeks into a relationship would make just about anyone nervous. Or if work relationships are forbidden there’s added pressure on the relationship to know if it’s really worth losing your job over. Lastly, if your position titles are unbalanced any career achievements could be judged as ‘sleeping to the top’.
If I haven’t stressed you out enough yet then let’s skip right into the relationship. You’re starting a new relationship already spending the majority of the week with this person. So after spending the whole day together now you’re going to go have dinner or some other date plan. A relationship like this can definitely burn out quickly.
So say the relationship has burned out. Now you still see that person EVERYDAY at work. Maybe you’re both part of coworkers that all get lunch together every day, now what? Does the group split in half, are you left all by yourself, do you suffer through a group lunch with your ex every day? Dating a coworker is extremely complicated and there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. Of course, all relationships have their obstacles so a relationship with a coworker isn’t all that different.
So if you’re going to pursue this guy then the first thing I would work on is one on one time. Whether it be texting, lunch at work, or a light hearted hang out outside of work you want to build a special bond between the two of you. You can test the waters on how he may be feeling about you and express that you are interested in a relationship with him. Once you two have talked about those romantic feelings and are on the same page, you can progress in the dating stage.
Debatably Dateable 
I have seen both sides of this. I met my now late husband at work. Looking back its a wonder that relationship worked out because of coworkers actions. I left that workplace not longer after for several reasons. I have also seen what happens when relationships begin among coworkers and the ripple effect it causes through the work place. Seeing that I knew I would not ever seek to get into a relationship with a coworker, the degrees of problems, many of which you mentioned, make it a less than desirable idea.
LikeLike
Absolutely messy 👎
LikeLike
Tried and tested. No major fall out in my experience, but do not recommend.
LikeLike
I’ve worked in family and/or small businesses most of my life. I have seen lots of ugly.
When I was 23 a work relationship went sour. Afterwards a mentor offered me sound advice, “If the job matters don’t fish from the company dock. If the relationship matters find a new job. Nothing good will come from sticking your pen in the company ink well.”
Since that experience I’ve never hit on or dated a coworker.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
LikeLike