Dating Coworkers

It's only natural to find yourself attracted to someone you work with closely day in and day out. Dating a coworker might seem like a wild, adventurous thrill ride that could make your workweek much more exciting; however, there are some things to keep in mind before indulging in an office romance.

The thrill of being intimate in the office during the day, after hours and when others aren't looking can be very exciting. While falling for a coworker isn't necessarily advised in any office environment, this holds especially true in a small workplace where everyone is into everyone else's business; however, smaller work environments can create the type of closeness that can lead to the development of a romantic relationship.

The real excitement comes in the early stages of the relationship and the smiles and occasional glances, flirting, playful jokes and letters and naughty e-mails will definitely bring some joy to your long, hard day at the office.

So how do you know if it's worth your while? If she's extremely hot, chances are you'll feel like the office stud with this new boost of excitement in your life. You'll have someone to confide in concerning your work-related problems. Likewise, you can be there for her when she needs to blow off some steam.

During private time, you don't have to worry about conversation starters because you'll always have something in common to talk about due to you both living and breathing the same workspace every week. If the two of you have good chemistry, your normal lunches together can magically turn intimate with flirting, touching and maybe even lead to a quickie.

The downside of this type of relationship is that the more private time you spend together during work hours, the more you'll begin to alienate yourself from your other colleagues and the other guys in the office may become jealous of you when they catch on to what you're doing. If either of you decide that it's time to break it off, it's difficult to avoid one another in a small office. Jealousy may take its toll when you witness her flirting with other employees, going out on lunch dates and ultimately moving on with her life without you.

If you ended the relationship, she might try to make your life hell at work--and possibly try to get you fired. Distractions with these manipulative women can seriously harm your performance at work. If you gossiped about other coworkers with her or bad-mouthed anyone during your good times together, there's a chance that those comments will come back to haunt you.

If you don't believe that you can balance your career and a relationship with one hand, you might want to keep your business and personal lives separate. Make a professional decision by weighing the pros and cons of dating coworkers before severely harming your professional image.