Tue. Jan 13, 2009 | 11:36 AM
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The do's and don'ts of co-worker canoodling.

With all the time we spend at the office and all the time we spend around our co-workers, it's not very surprising that workplace romances sometimes spring up. While it might work splendidly for Pam and Jim, there's more to these risky relationships than just love and understanding. Here are the do's and don'ts of office romance.

Do: Be open and up front about your relationship. Definitely tell your boss to make sure you're not breaking any company rules. Chances are if you're up front about your situation, your co-workers will be cool with it.
Don't: Try to hide it from everyone. Once one person catches wind of your arrangement, it'll spread like wildfire to the rest of the bunch. And once the gossip starts- - it's added pressure on the both of you.

Do: Make it more of a point to plan separate activities- - especially lunch with other co-workers. Having "me time" is important for any couple but especially for you guys- - working, hanging out and maybe even living together is a lot of time to be spending with one person.
Don't: Hang out all the time. Inviting him to every lunch is overkill on the both of you and might get you alienated from the rest of the office.

Do: Occasionally swing by each other's desks or run out for a coffee break together. As long as it's few and far between, no one expects the two of you to act like strangers during working hours.
Don't: Use office i.m's and e-mails to send love notes. If anyone catches you it's going to start looking like a problem and you could even find yourself in hot water with your company. Don't get caught locking lips in the supply closet either!


NEXT: How to be Just like Tyra
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QB8bxs
Posted by Krwosnto 07/14/09 7:46 PM
 
DONT DONT DONT . . .my warning to all you smart men and women out there....I did it and screwed me up when we broke up...and we still have to work together...and see each other everyday...take my advice: DONT DIP YO PEN IN COMPANY INK. :)
Posted by heartless_masochist 02/19/09 8:08 PM
 
Hi Tyra I just would like to give you, your props b/c you have came along way in now you are at the top. Here in jacksonville your show comes on twice once at 9am then again at 1am I make sure I'm there to watch it even if its a rerun. I just love the postive note that you give. keep the good work up And i pray god keep on blessing you in everything you do.
Posted by Teena Mascoe 02/19/09 9:26 AM
 
FOR THE MOST PART I AGREE WITH THE DOS AND DONT OF OFFICE RELATIONSHIPS I RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CRUSH ON A MAN WORKING WITHIN THE SAME COMPANY I AM AND I DISCOVERED THE FEELINGS ARE MUTUAL. WE FEEL THAT WE SHOULDNT MISS OUT ON A GOOD THING JUST BECAUSE WE WERE SCARED TO TAKE A RISK BECAUSE WERE CO WORKERS IF ANYTHING IT ADDS MORE EXCITEMENT GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE IN OFFICE RELATIOSNHIPS WHETHER YOUR TELLING YOUR BOSS OR NOT LOL
Posted by brittney 01/15/09 6:27 AM
 
i agree with the DO'S and DON'TS of office relationships. i work in the same place with my man and we where open about it from the beginning.it made it alot easier for us to be around each other in front of everyone else.. its a good idea too coz it keeps them other women away from yo man.
Posted by lisa 01/14/09 12:20 AM
 
I've experienced a office romance, it was never planned it just happens. Everybody including the boss was aware of it. It is definetely difficult, we actually argue a a lot because we saw each other at work and then at home afterwards. It was hard and I wouldn't recommend it but it does happen. It was also hard not to kiss and touch at work, we would try and wait until afterwards and make up for it.
Posted by Ellen Cormier 01/13/09 6:12 PM
 
ON THE JOB SEX IS GREAT UNTIL YOU GUYS STOP HAVING THEN YOU FIND YOUR SELF NOT WANTING TO LOOK AT THE COPY MACHINE CAUSE YOU HAD SEX THERE OR IN YOUR OFFICE LOUNGE SO ON AND SO FOURTH UNTIL YOU LIKE I DONT WANT TO WORK HERE ANYMORE
Posted by sunshine 01/13/09 6:07 PM
 
I've had 2 boyfriends that work at the same company as me (1 is still my BF). It was hard when I broke up with the first one because I still saw him around, but fortunately we work in completely opposite sides of the building, so I don't run into him much. Even my current boyfriend works in another department, so I don't see him except occasionally in the hallway. Everyone knows we are together, but like I said, we barely see each other at the office. It's better that way!
Posted by Elizabeth 01/13/09 5:26 PM
 
I agree with one of the women on ur panel today, that suggested the idea that men only treat women the way that they allow them to. It is a known fact, that if you lay the law down, as far as respect with a man, he will either 1) cross the line or 2)respect you, and a woman will either 1)be strong and walk away from the situation because its an indication of more disrespect to come, or 2) stay and hope he changes, and 9 times out of 10 he won't, and the woman ends up being hurt when she realizes after years of putting up with it, that she's better off without him. Women as a whole, need to learn to be strong, and love ourselves first and stop looking for completion within in a man. Instead we should establish ourselves, mentally, emotionally, and physically before we can give ourselves to someone else, then we can recognize right away the treatment that we deserve vs. the treatment that we have been putting up with.
Posted by DEEVA 01/13/09 3:13 PM



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