Love and Other Bugs

By Vasundhara Sawhney, Senior Editor

Many people meet their partners at work.?I mean, it makes sense—we literally?spend half our lives?at the office! Yet, I’ve always been somewhat wary of office romances. They look great on TV and in the movies, but IRL they’ve always seemed more risky than fun—and when it comes to my personal life, I am definitely risk averse.

Of course, there are perfectly?good reasons?why coworkers fall for one another:

• The more time we spend at work, the less time we have to meet people outside of it. As we grow comfortable and form connections with our colleagues, the occasional office crush can feel inevitable.
• If you put people in close proximity—working together and having open, vulnerable conversations—there’s a good chance?there are going to be romantic relationships.
• Research shows?that we also tend to fall for people who are similar to ourselves. The more familiar you are with the person, the more likely it is that you’ll become attracted to one another.

All this to say: Whether we accept it or not, the workplace is a breeding ground for love. A recent survey indicates that 75% of workers have had an office romance. If you find yourself crushing on a colleague, dating someone at work, or working with your partner at the same office, here’s some advice from our experts on how to make your relationship work—at work.

P.S. Happy Valentines Day???

Recommended Reads

You’re Crushing on a Coworker. Should You Go for it?

Err on the side of caution.

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How to Stay Focused at Work After a Breakup

Romantic heartbreak can feel as psychologically painful as losing a loved one.

Read the full article.

How to Approach an Office Romance (and How Not To)

Hiding the relationship could erode your manager’s trust.

Read the full article.

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