As with everything in life, along with the good comes the bad. The only difference in this case is that when it’s bad, it’s horrible.
No 1.
When things are not going your way at work, whether it’s a personal issue or a work-related incident, the last thing you need is added pressure stemming from tension between you and your office flame. That cold, hard glare she lets off can really burn a hole right through the back of your brain when tension arises. Even worse is when others around the office have to witness this chaos. Not pleasant in the least.
No 2
The more private time you spend together during office hours, the more and more you’ll begin to alienate yourself from your other colleagues. The worst thing you can do is distance yourself from your immediate associates, especially those you’ve developed personal relationships with. As soon as trouble in corporate paradise rears its ugly head and you find yourself as the office outsider, you’ll have to work overtime to regain their trust and friendship.
No 3
When the going gets tough, it’s difficult to avoid one another in a small office. Chances are your office space or workstation is just around the corner from hers, so attempting to ignore her all week is virtually impossible. In a larger office, you may be able to pull it off.
No 4
Office gossip can destroy your chances of promotion. Should your boss discover that you’re more preoccupied with your relationship than with your job, you may find yourself writing those cute little love notes on a pink slip. No matter how much excitement your co workers have in their personal lives, they always seem to be trying to catch you in the act. If they sense that something is going on between you and your lady friend, they will do everything in their power to expose you. If you are caught in an act of intimacy during office hours, you’re busted. This alone can severely harm your professional image.
No 5
If she’s having a bad day, guess who’s first in line to hear about it all day at work, then some more during private time? If she’s having mood swings, you’re public enemy No. 1.
The break-up
As with many relationships, you may find that this one simply is not working out. Should you decide that it’s time to break it off, those 40 work hours per week might feel like an eternity in the early stages of the break-up. The beauty of breaking off a normal relationship is that you no longer have to see the other person after ward. Obviously, the same rules don’t apply when it comes to an office fling.
If you are responsible for ending it, she might seek revenge and try to make your life hell at work. She may even try to get you canned.
On the other hand, if she ends it, you could be the bitter one and you might even attempt to seek revenge of your own. What is worse, 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. Such distractions can seriously harm your performance at work.
And last but not least, 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.
Make a professional decision
So there you have it. If you ever find yourself in this type of predicament, do whatever you feel is right, but let your brain weigh the pros and cons before enrolling yourself in a crash course in career chaos. Unless you honestly believe that you can juggle your career and a relationship with one hand, you might want to do yourself a favour and keep your business and personal lives separate.