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Workplace Relationships Work If You Know How
Work doesn't have to be a
drag - day in and day out.
Let work become like your
favorite sport, play or picnic.
It's possible - see how here.
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It's true - you're probably
having more face time at
work than you do family
or friends.
With the hours you spend
at work - between 50 to 60
hours per week - it is no
surprise that you may start
to develop romantic relations
with your colleagues at work.
And it comes to no surprise
to your friends and families
that you do - many have come
to accept the fact that you
can date, fall in love, and in
some cases, even marry a
co-worker.
There have been many stories
of successful office or work-
place romance.
That being said there are also
as many stories of workplace
romance failures.
Having romantic relationships
in the workplace, romantic or
purely platonic, can be tricky
to navigate.
This is especially true if you
have a relationship with a
person that is either "above"
or "below" you position wise.
More so if your workplace
has a very active rumor
center - you know where
rumors, often times unflattering
seem to propagate from.
And even if the two of you
make every effort to behave
professionally at all times,
and work very hard not to
allow your romantic relationship
to interfere with your work,
you need to know that possibly
not everyone in the company
will approve of your relationship -
especially upper management.
And with the fear of sexual
harassment lawsuits hanging
over employers and employees
alike like Damocles' sword
many have interfered in
worker's personal lives.
So before you think about
having workplace relations
you need to know first if
what you're feeling is real
or merely infatuation.
There is a difference after all.
But, say, for the sake of
argument, that you want to
have a relationship with a
co-worker check first what
policies your company may
have when it comes to
inter-office relationships.
This is especially true if you
want to have a relationship
with someone you directly
report to or someone who
directly reports to you.
And even if it is not one of
those scenarios, it may
still depend on what
occupations you both
have.
You may need to disclose
a personal relationship that
can be seen as a conflict
of interest
If you are unsure of your
company's policies better
discuss the details with
an HR professional.
Develop an office relationship
with your intended person
BEFORE you develop a
romantic relationship with
them.
This way you get to know
about them first - maybe
they already have a partner
or maybe they don't want
a relationship yet, or
maybe they're even
related to your own
boss.
And even when you get the
go ahead and go ahead with
the relationship, you need
to set a few guidelines
between the two of you.
Nothing complicated.
Some rules that can make
it easier for you to maintain
professionalism in the
workplace.
Things like no flirting, no
lovey-dovey emails using
the workplace network -
basically not letting on that
the two of you are in a
relationship until the BOTH
of you are ready to let everyone
know.
At the same time since life
is not directed by Hollywood,
your relationship could
conceivably come to an
end, even if you want it
to or not.
This means that the two of
you need to agree that even
if the romantic relationship
ends the business relationship
still goes on as usual.
Easier said than done I know
but that's what you need to
do - separate the romantic
from the business.
What is important in all
relationship, be it romantic
or business, is to keep the
lines of communication open.
And please NO means NO
means NO.
Don't push it.
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And to make your workplace
a happy place for you let me
show you how.
Become a happy worker here.
To your relationships,
Ruth Purple
P.S. Visit my blog at: http://www.relazine.com
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