In a bid to climb the corporate ladder and get ahead in the 'rat race', new age executives spend a lot of time at work than at home. Most workplaces have emerged as a 'second home' and thus even as an 'unofficial' dating destination.
Office romance may seem to be thrilling and even bring back the zing into your dull and monotonous life at times, but how smart is it to display your affection at the workplace? Whether it is a man/woman you are dating or your spouse who is working in the same organisation, where should you draw the line? Can office romances also affect your career? We explore...
· Ruining work place ethics?
Acknowledging that it is normal to get attracted to a colleague, most offices do not view dating as non-permissible. However, a vast majority of companies have a stringent policy disallowing spouses to work in the same organisation. So, before you get romantically involved at the workplace, it's essential to know your company's policies regarding the same.
So if you thought public display of affection was alright at the workplace, think again. Harsha Choubey (name changed on request) , a human resource professional working in Noida relates, "We have often received complaints of a couple who were spotted cuddling and smooching in the isolated areas of the office. Despite several warnings, they didn't take it seriously. We were left with no choice but to sack them for not adhering to the work place ethics."
"Our company has a policy which doesn't allow spouses to work in the same organisation as there are chances of confidential information being leaked out or the code of conduct being violated. We have occasionally come across complaints of employees indulging in undesirable activities at the workplace. In minor cases, we usually warn employees to refrain from such activities within the office premises and in extreme cases we need to fire the employees," says Reena Agarwal, a human resource professional with a multi-national company in Delhi.
· Prioritising is vital
If you don't want your love life to get in the way of your career goals, it's important to prioritise between work and romance. Often, flings at the workplace are a major source of distraction and may even hamper your career. So, don't let your love life take a toll on your career or keep you from meeting deadlines and attending important tasks. You can be friendly with your partner at the workplace, and have other friends too, without putting yourself or your job in jeopardy.
Suresh Sinha (name changed on request), head of a leading manufacturing firm in Mumbai adds, "My subordinate was having an affair with a girl in the same office. He was an outstanding performer when he had joined. Eventually, he started ignoring work and missing deadlines. I personally tried to explain to him not to let his personal life hamper with his career, but it didn't help much. I firmly believe that office is a place to work and not a dating club. Even if you do, it shouldn't come in the way of your professional commitments."
Vikram Prasad (29) could not agree more, "I was working as a sales manager in Pune a few years ago and going steady with a girl from the same office. We were together for two years before we broke up. I was shattered and uncomfortable being around her in the same office. My friends in office who knew about our relationship were inquisitive about why we broke up and kept asking me embarassing questions. The girls also started bad mouthing me openly. These incidents made my life miserable." Prasad soon moved base to Mumbai and settled down for a lesser paying job to get rid of the situation.
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