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Most of us spend two third of our waking hours in the work place. Thus, it should not be a surprise that office romances blossomed from working relationships. I believe if you spend sufficient time with one particular person for a long time, feelings of affections are unavoidable. Some people just grow on you even though in the first place, you may have a strong dislike for him or her. Haven’t we heard stories whereby two logger-heads at work finally ended up married to one another?

The Pros of office romance

• Isn’t it easier to check out your co-workers than scan the local clubs, gymnasiums or pubs for a possible mate? No more fix-ups by your buddies or mother. Now, your “honey” is at the same office – isn’t it a joy to go to work now?

• It does your ego a lot of good. Everyone knows you are wanted!

• Working in the same project or assignment is so much fun now with your partner by your side. Working till wee hours is not a problem at all!

• Both of you have a common interest – whatever issues and complaints can be shared and there is so much of understanding at this juncture. You must be thinking, “I have found my soul mate here! (Care to thank the boss for this?)

• Able to assess better whether he/she is indeed the ONE. You can scrutinize his/her every move – how he/she acts among other co-workers will tell a lot more about his/her character than time alone with you in private.

The cons of office romance

• You cannot go out for “happy hours” with your other co-workers without him/her tagging along.

• If you got scolded or reprimanded by the boss, he/she knows it too. Your partner seems to know about everything as much as you do. Is there anything new?

• Your darling shares intimate information with co-workers or blows up at you in the office. You wouldn’t want a co-worker came whispering to you, “Hey, I heard you guys had a great time last night.”

• During courtship, you may spend more time focusing on him/her than the task itself. Watch out, this may well jeopardize your career!

• To those that desire to spend private moments with your own soul once in a while, office romance can be suffocating. She is there in the office; she is there during meal times; she is everywhere!

• Not all office romances end up in marriages. The break-up can be messy and if not handled well, one party may have to consider resigning. Or worst still, you discover your ex flirting with another co-worker. The office gossip can drive you crazy!

Headache for the employer

• When your employee is in cloud nine and wandering around the office just to catch a glimpse of his/her sweetheart, work productivity is ultimately affected.

• If the romance did not work out, office gossips run wild. Your employees spend more time relating all the juicy stories instead of working.

• A “broken heart” can be a severe emotional stress for some people. The employer or HR personnel may need to resort to relocating one party to another location as they no longer able to work together.

• Some office romance leads to sexual harassment when one party brings to you a complaint. You spend time investigating which category the case should belong to. Worst still, if it involves a superior and a subordinate, the employer may receive a law suit in no time.

• Business confidences may be compromised. Imagine a HR Manager having a relationship with another division manager. When you are in a relationship, it is sometimes difficult to draw the line between personal and professional matters.

• Genuine office romance is embraced if it ends well in marriage but what about extramarital affairs? Should the employer be involved and put a stop to it?

So, is office romance a bliss or stress? All of us can have our own opinions but it is a fact that a high percentage of working adults found their partners in the work place. That goes to show no office or HR policy can stop an office romance from taking place. How can we stop “matters of the heart”? The employers certainly cannot stop co-workers from sending flowers to one another on a Valentine’s Day, can they?

Love is in the air and to those that are single and unattached, love can surely be found in your office …Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!