Making Friends - Dating Co-Workers

Dating a co-worker means that you are involved romantically with that person.  Dating a co-worker can be very sticky (awkward, uncomfortable, or tricky) and should be avoided.  Many places of employment have rules against workplace romances.  Other places do not have explicit rules against workplace romances, but it is "frowned upon."  "Frowned upon" means that something is not looked at in a favorable light.  In other words, even though there may not be an official policy forbidding work place romances, your employer may not support it. 

Dating a co-worker is not a good idea because:

• It could interfere with your job performance.  For example, if you are flirting with or dating a co-worker, it could take away from your time spent working. 

• If the workplace romance does not work out, things can get uncomfortable for everybody at the office.  The broken-up pair may feel tense or uncomfortable around each other, and this tension can spread to others in the office.  

• Even just asking someone out on a date could make things awkward at work. 
  
  

• Sometimes, it might be hard for you to tell whether you are making someone uncomfortable or not.  It can be hard to "read these signs" of someone else’s discomfort and disinterest.  If you make your co-worker uncomfortable by asking them out (in person, by phone, email, or texting), they could view it as a form of sexual harassment.  That means, you could get in trouble and possibly lose your job.  This is an extreme example, but realistic.  For more on this topic, go to the Harassment section.

Dating can be very complicated, and mixing dating and work is not a good combination.  Therefore, the rule for most cases is that you should not ask a co-worker out on a date.  If a co-worker asks you out on a date, talk it over with a trusted friend, teacher, mentor, or parent before saying yes.

If you are a supervisor, you should NEVER ask out or date an employee who you supervise.

If you are an employee, you should NEVER date your supervisor.