Office Affairs Can Be Detrimental to Your Career.Parts 2

 

 
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

By Ruth Houston

Career Complications
   
”Aside from legal issues, workers tempted to date their bosses should worry about whether a relationship will hurt their careers”, said Houston in the Christian Science Monitor article. 

"If it ends badly and you were involved with someone in your direct chain of command, very nasty things can happen," Houston says, especially if your boss is married. "No matter how hard you work, some of your co-workers will always be convinced you got your raise or your promotion as a reward for sexual favors, rather than that you worked hard and earned it."

Below, Houston further expands on some of the day-to-day and long-range career complications that can result from office affairs:  

• Envious co-workers may become jealous and attempt to sabotage your work.
• Your productivity or the productivity of those around you may suffer.
• You could become the subject of office gossip
• If your office romance results in preferential treatment with regard to work assignments, raises, promotions or company perks your co-workers will resent you.
• A series of office romances will earn you a reputation as someone who tries to sleep their way to the top.
• You may be transferred to another department or even required to leave the company, especially if you are a woman.  When an office affair becomes a problem, it’s usually the woman who is penalized.
• It could create an awkward situation when the romance ends, and the two of you still have to work together.
• If you end the relationship and the other person is vindictive, they can sabotage your career in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.
• A disgruntled lover can negatively influence the kind of work assignments, raises, and opportunities for advancement you receive.
• Your coworkers’ perceptions of your work performance may be lowered.
• No matter how good you are, there will always be speculation as to the “real” reason for your job advancement.

How to Keep Your Office Romance on a Professional Level

“The best advice I can give regarding office affairs is to avoid them, altogether, since the risks greatly outweigh the rewards,” says Ruth Houston.  “If you’re currently involved in a office romance, or you’re tempted to become involved in one despite my warnings, the guidelines below will help you keep things on a professional level.”

Know your company’s policy regarding office romance.

·         Never get involved with someone in your direct chain of command.

·         Confine your romantic attachments to someone who is a peer, rather than someone above or below you in rank.

·         Never get involved with in an office affair if either of you are married.

·         Never underestimate the power of the office grapevine.  Try to keep your office romance a secret, if you can.

·         Keep it low key – don’t flaunt the fact that the two of you are romantically involved.

·         Avoid public displays of affection – it’s highly unprofessional.

·         Don’t gossip about your love life.

·         Do not exchange embarrassing or ostentatious flowers, cards or gifts.  (Small , discreet, tasteful gifts are okay.)

·         Do not allow your office romance to interfere with productivity – yours, your partner’s or your coworkers.

·         Do not use company e-mail to send passionate or suggestive love notes to each other.

·         Do not leave X-rated voice mails on each other’s phones.

·         Don’t show or request favoritism regarding work assignments, raises, promotions or company perks.

·         Do not use company funds to entertain your partner.

·         Refrain from overt sexual behavior on the job.

·         Never engage in sex on company property. (That includes stair wells, supply closets and company parking lots.)

·         Have a back-up career plan in case things take a negative turn.  Be prepared to find another job.