No doubt, a situation will arise where co-workers will be attracted to each other. This can lead to a place where you’ll quickly find out “Is office dating or workplace dating a good idea?”. If you’re considering dating in the workplace, make sure you know the rules. A relationship with a co-worker will be complicated.

Almost all companies have policies that directly address dating between associates. You will find the answer to whether your company has specific rules in your company manual. If the book doesn’t seem to cover the topic, one option is to ask a supervisor about your concern. Keep in mind that the person you ask may wonder why you want to know. They will assume that he is involved with another employee and if this is not allowed, he will put himself in a spot. You will draw attention to yourself before you even do anything. So if you can get the information in another way.

Most of us will never be able to control who we are attracted to or who is attracted to us. If you find yourself in a bind and have to make decisions about how far you can let an employment relationship go, remember that there can be serious consequences. These can range from issues with other employees not liking the idea of ​​your relationship, to being passed over for a promotion or even being fired. The cost of a workplace romance can be very high.

I suggest you have a conversation, outside of the workplace, with the person you are also attracted to. You will need to make a plan for what to do as people are told about you. How will you handle situations that arise when you tell people? You will have to consider the possibility of one or both of you losing your job. This is a real possibility, especially if there is a policy against relationships between employees. Is it all worth it? You better think about it! In the worst case, one of you has to quit your job. The best case scenario might be that one of you is allowed to change departments. You will have to consider all these possibilities and more.

You might be asking, “is honesty the best policy?” The answer to that question is yes! If you’re serious about the relationship, it’s definitely a bad idea to try to hide it. People in positions of authority don’t appreciate being let down. Chances are you’ll be received more sympathetically if you’re sincere and honest.

Note that companies have reasons for these rules. The most common concern would be that their romance turns into a performance problem. Because of this, no matter how management reacts, you will need to be very careful not to let your emotions affect your work or anyone else’s performance. Keep your private life out of the office at all costs.