Workplace Romance: Handle with care

MUMBAI: In a 24/7 world, boundaries between work and life are blurring. Executives are increasingly spending a major part of their waking hours in office. With close interactions and long work hours, workplace relationships are a natural corollary.

Employers’ attitude towards workplace romances too have changed with time. No longer is it frowned upon. Reeling under the talent crunch, there are a few who promote it by offering dating allowance or setting up matchmaking links on their intranet.
While its easy to get into a relationship at work, its never easy to maintain a balance between personal and professional lives. Are you dealing with one? Here’s our guide to keeping your balance at work:

Don’t indulge too often

A relationship at work may give you a high, but indulging in it frequently has serious downsides to it. Many indulge in casual flirting at the workplace. While you may gain popularity, it may dent your image unnecessarily. Tread with caution.

Draw boundaries

It is difficult, but not impossible. Maintain boundaries between personal and professional relationships. Physical intimacy is something that most organisations actively discourage and should be maintained strictly. Be sensitive to team members if working on the same team.

No favouritism

If office relationships involve the boss and his subordinate it is important to communicate it to the super boss. Most professional organisations redesignate teams to avoid conflict of personal and professional interests. This is the best way to avoid allegations of biases and favouritism, which often crop up during such situations.

Break-up blues

Dealing with a break-up at work is hard, but not impossible. One needs to handle the situation with maturity and focus on work. If working in the same team is difficult, request for a change of team. Many organisations today provide in-house counselling to deal with such situations. Quitting is also an option, but treat it as the last resort.