{"id":83416,"date":"2025-02-27T08:52:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/?p=83416"},"modified":"2025-04-17T11:22:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:22:41","slug":"what-to-consider-before-dating-your-coworker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/what-to-consider-before-dating-your-coworker\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s What to Consider Before Dating Your Co-Worker, According to an HR Director"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Jim and Pam in The Office<\/em> to Margaret and Andrew in The Proposal<\/em>, the tales of office romances are as old as, well, offices. If you\u2019ve ever had a crush on a co-worker, don\u2019t feel alone: A 2024 study<\/a> by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests that nearly half (!) of U.S. workers have had a crush on their co-workers and 21% have gone on a date with a co-worker. So, is dating someone you work with really that bad? We interviewed an HR specialist to answer all your questions on workplace dating. Learn everything you need to know before entering a romantic relationship<\/a> with your work crush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the risks of dating a co-worker?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before diving headfirst into an office romance, it\u2019s important to evaluate your employee handbook to figure out if your company has any policies on dating within the workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janene Binnion<\/a>, the human resources director at Smith Industries LLC, notes that co-workers at the same level in the company are generally okay to date without legal repercussions. However, when it comes to engaging in a romance with a superior or subordinate, it\u2019s best to steer clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not illegal to date a co-worker,\u201d says Binnion. \u201cHowever, if you are at a higher level than the person you are dating, especially if you are their direct manager, there could be considerable legal considerations if the relationship ends badly and the other person decides to make a claim of sexual harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\"Leadership<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Sexual harassment in the workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/a> (EEOC), sexual harassment includes, \u201cunwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature,\u201d and can be, \u201cthe victim’s supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether starting a relationship or ending one, if the other person decides they are no longer interested, you must go along with their decision,\u201d says Binnion. \u201cYou can never continue to send text messages or call someone or send emails about dating them. That will get you in trouble or even fired if the other party goes to human resources\u2014even if they say they don\u2019t want to get you fired. If the company gets the idea that you are harassing another employee in any way, they will be obligated to protect their employee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason not to date your boss is that it might set you back in your career. A 2016 study<\/a> suggests that subordinates in \u201chierarchical workplace romances\u201d (or an in-office romance where one person is the other\u2019s supervisor) are less likely to be promoted and selected for professional development opportunities than those not in relationships with a superior in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other risks may include claims of favoritism, especially if the co-worker you are dating is your supervisor or subordinate. With all the risks in mind, you can decide if the relationship is worth pursuing or if you should remain platonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to handle dating in the workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Assuming your company is okay with in-office dating and you\u2019ve evaluated the risks, you have the green light to engage in a relationship with your co-worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, should you tell everyone you\u2019re dating? According to Binnion, it\u2019s important to keep your relationship extremely confidential in the beginning in case it doesn\u2019t work out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI recommend [telling co-workers] only once you are extremely serious, probably once you are engaged. Most people won\u2019t do this but after 30+ years in human resources that\u2019s my recommendation,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to inform HR of your relationship if your company has a policy that requires disclosure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At work, be sure not to show any public displays of affection or favoritism towards your partner and remain professional so as to avoid making fellow co-workers uncomfortable or stirring up office gossip<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before dating a co-worker, employees should reference their employee handbook to see if their company has any guidelines or restrictions on office romances. Those who want to engage in an office romance should be respectful of their fellow co-workers and remain professional at the office. Binnion emphasizes that it\u2019s crucial to consider all the risks and ask yourself if the relationship is worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn my experience, most people don\u2019t give any consideration to it at all. They simply find themselves attracted to a co-worker and begin dating without giving any thought to it at all, which could be a big mistake,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aforementioned SHRM study indicates that 10% of U.S. workers left a job they liked because of a breakup with someone at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink about it long and hard because most relationships don\u2019t last and you don\u2019t want to ruin your career or decide it\u2019s easier to leave a company you like than to see your ex every day,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo by Dikushin Dmitry\/shutterstock.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Caught up in a cubicle-crossed romance? Here\u2019s everything you should consider before dating your coworker, according to an HR Director.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79481,"featured_media":83417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14058],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relationships"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dating-your-coworker-header.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lauren Barnhill","author_link":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/author\/lauren-barnhill\/"},"yoast_head":"\nHere\u2019s What to Consider Before Dating Your Coworker | SUCCESS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Caught up in a cubicle-crossed romance? 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You can find her on\u00a0<a class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/laurenbarnhill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/laurenbarnhill\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thelaurenbarnhill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thelaurenbarnhill\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Instagram<\/a>."],"rich_editing":["true"],"syntax_highlighting":["true"],"comment_shortcuts":["false"],"admin_color":["fresh"],"use_ssl":["0"],"show_admin_bar_front":["true"],"locale":[""],"wp_capabilities":["a:1:{s:6:\"author\";b:1;}"],"wp_user_level":["0"],"_yoast_wpseo_profile_updated":["1747319064"],"dismissed_wp_pointers":[""],"hubspot_contact_id":["93752239507"],"wp_elementor_enable_ai":["1"],"wpseo_metadesc":[""],"wpseo_title":[""],"wpseo_content_analysis_disable":[""],"wpseo_keyword_analysis_disable":[""],"wpseo_user_schema":["a:0:{}"],"molongui_author_phone":[""],"molongui_author_job":[""],"molongui_author_company":[""],"molongui_author_company_link":[""],"molongui_author_custom_link":[""],"molongui_author_box_display":["default"],"molongui_author_short_bio":["Lauren Barnhill is a writer and editor with over three years of experience in the media industry. She specializes in the lifestyle, home and career space and has contributed to leading outlets like\u00a0<i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">SUCCESS\u00ae<\/i>\u00a0magazine<i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">,<\/i>\u00a0<i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Real Simple<\/i>,\u00a0<i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Southern Living<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Martha Stewart Living<\/i>."],"molongui_author_image_id":[""],"molongui_author_image_url":[""],"molongui_author_image_edit":[""],"advanced-ads-role":[""]}}]},"custom_post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>From Jim and Pam in <em>The Office<\/em> to Margaret and Andrew in <em>The Proposal<\/em>, the tales of office romances are as old as, well, offices. If you\u2019ve ever had a crush on a co-worker, don\u2019t feel alone: A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/topics-tools\/research\/2024-workplace-romance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 study<\/a> by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests that nearly half (!) of U.S. workers have had a crush on their co-workers and 21% have gone on a date with a co-worker. So, is dating someone you work with really that bad? We interviewed an HR specialist to answer all your questions on workplace dating. Learn everything you need to know before entering a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/relational-self-awareness-alexandra-solomon\/\">romantic relationship<\/a> with your work crush.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-risks-of-dating-a-co-worker\">What are the risks of dating a co-worker?<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Before diving headfirst into an office romance, it\u2019s important to evaluate your employee handbook to figure out if your company has any policies on dating within the workplace. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithindustriestx.com\/janene-binnion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Janene Binnion<\/a>, the human resources director at Smith Industries LLC, notes that co-workers at the same level in the company are generally okay to date without legal repercussions. However, when it comes to engaging in a romance with a superior or subordinate, it\u2019s best to steer clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt is not illegal to date a co-worker,\u201d says Binnion. \u201cHowever, if you are at a higher level than the person you are dating, especially if you are their direct manager, there could be considerable legal considerations if the relationship ends badly and the other person decides to make a claim of sexual harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n\n<!-- \/wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace\">Sexual harassment in the workplace<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/sexual-harassment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/a> (EEOC), sexual harassment includes, \u201cunwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature,\u201d and can be, \u201cthe victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWhether starting a relationship or ending one, if the other person decides they are no longer interested, you must go along with their decision,\u201d says Binnion. \u201cYou can never continue to send text messages or call someone or send emails about dating them. That will get you in trouble or even fired if the other party goes to human resources\u2014even if they say they don\u2019t want to get you fired. If the company gets the idea that you are harassing another employee in any way, they will be obligated to protect their employee.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Another reason not to date your boss is that it might set you back in your career. A <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0265407516635285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2016 study<\/a> suggests that subordinates in \u201chierarchical workplace romances\u201d (or an in-office romance where one person is the other\u2019s supervisor) are less likely to be promoted and selected for professional development opportunities than those not in relationships with a superior in the office.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Other risks may include claims of favoritism, especially if the co-worker you are dating is your supervisor or subordinate. With all the risks in mind, you can decide if the relationship is worth pursuing or if you should remain platonic.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-handle-dating-in-the-workplace\">How to handle dating in the workplace<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Assuming your company is okay with in-office dating and you\u2019ve evaluated the risks, you have the green light to engage in a relationship with your co-worker.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So, should you tell everyone you\u2019re dating? According to Binnion, it\u2019s important to keep your relationship extremely confidential in the beginning in case it doesn\u2019t work out. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI recommend [telling co-workers] only once you are extremely serious, probably once you are engaged. Most people won\u2019t do this but after 30+ years in human resources that\u2019s my recommendation,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Be sure to inform HR of your relationship if your company has a policy that requires disclosure. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At work, be sure not to show any public displays of affection or favoritism towards your partner and remain professional so as to avoid making fellow co-workers uncomfortable or stirring up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/the-good-and-bad-of-gossip\/\">office gossip<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bottom-line\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Before dating a co-worker, employees should reference their employee handbook to see if their company has any guidelines or restrictions on office romances. Those who want to engage in an office romance should be respectful of their fellow co-workers and remain professional at the office. Binnion emphasizes that it\u2019s crucial to consider all the risks and ask yourself if the relationship is worth it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIn my experience, most people don\u2019t give any consideration to it at all. They simply find themselves attracted to a co-worker and begin dating without giving any thought to it at all, which could be a big mistake,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The aforementioned SHRM study indicates that 10% of U.S. workers left a job they liked because of a breakup with someone at work.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThink about it long and hard because most relationships don\u2019t last and you don\u2019t want to ruin your career or decide it\u2019s easier to leave a company you like than to see your ex every day,\u201d says Binnion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"fontSize\":\"small\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Photo by Dikushin Dmitry\/shutterstock.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","tag_names":[],"post_attachment_urls":[],"author_email":"authorlaurenbarnhill@success.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79481"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}