Beware you don't overlook that potential partner!
Our relationship expert Dr Pam Spurr (On Twitter: @drpamspurr) shares her advice on how to deal with a workplace romance.
I'd be rich if I had £1 for every time someone told me that their "friendly" work colleague ended up the love of their life. The colleague who they had always enjoyed chatting to. And who they also enjoyed having, for example, drinks after work with. Usually along with other colleagues.
People often tell me that they viewed this colleague like a good friend at work. However, in that one moment when their eyes met across their workstations, they realised maybe this was more. It was an awakening to that person's lovely attributes. Then the rest became history, and they started a long-term relationship.
Surveys in the last couple of years have found between 43 to 45% of people have met their partner at work. Furthermore, a whopping 60% have had a workplace romance even if it didn't last or become a serious relationship.
Many have confided that seemingly out of the blue they realised this colleague, who at first was a friend, was something much more significant. Inwardly many asked themselves why aren't they dating this amazing colleague? Taking the plunge and making these feelings known can lead to discovering if it is mutual.
There are snags to this, for instance, many companies ban workplace romances. And even if you're attracted to a colleague at work, some people decide it's just not what they want to do. Two more reasons why people find dating apps so convenient because they can get on the apps at any time – 24/7 - when they're not working.
If you're lucky enough to find someone at work, and there aren't any workplace objections, here are a few tips to make it go smoothly:
* Take it slowly when you first sound them out to see if they have any reciprocal feelings. You could suggest meeting them solo for an after-work drink or coffee.
* Don't take it badly if they resist taking your mutual attraction further because a lot of people have seen how workplace romances can attract a lot of “aggro”.
* If you two want to take things further, be careful not to rub your colleagues’ noses into your mutual attraction.
* Depending on your place of work you might want to flag up to your managers that you are now an item.
* Be realistic and acknowledge the fact that if things end you need to keep that out of the workplace. One of the trickiest things about a workplace romance, that ends, is making sure it doesn't affect either of your positions.
Good luck, Pam x
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Follow Dr Pam on Twitter @drpamspurr and at drpam.co.uk
If there are any little ones in your life, Dr Pam’s first children’s story book is out now: http://tinyurl.com/36y3xr6n
