How to Date a Coworker Without Getting Caught
April 30th, 2010 |
Dating a co-worker is often forbidden by an employer, but people do it anyway. If you plan to do it, realize that it could cost you your job. Is the other employee truly worth that? If you answered yes, then you’ll have to date your coworker without getting caught – and you can do that if you’re careful. First of all, don’t change how you act around that person. Work is work, and it should stay that way. If you’ve never talked much at work, don’t start giggling together in a corner on your lunch hour. If you’ve always flirted and joked around, don’t suddenly stop. It looks suspicious.
Try not to ask for too many of the same days off, if yours days off are flexible. Sure, you want to spend time together, but always putting in requests for the same days off throws up a red flag. If you work a standard Monday through Friday week, that won’t be a problem. Vacation time could be an issue, though, so plan carefully if you want to travel together and need to be off work at the same time. Don’t put the requests in on the same day, or talk about your vacation plans with others in the office.
Also, watch where you go when you’re together outside of work. You could run into a coworker somewhere or be spotted out by someone you didn’t even see. You don’t have to hide all the time, but stay away from places that you know other coworkers frequent and try not to be too affectionate in public. There’s nothing wrong with having lunch or even dinner with a coworker, but hanging all over that person in public makes things way too obvious to avoid getting caught.
If you realize that an office relationship is becoming serious, speak to a supervisor about it, or be honest with coworkers. If office relationships are strictly forbidden, it may be a good idea to start evaluating other employment options.
