Valentine's Day - Managing Romance in the Office

    PALM BEACH, FL, February 07, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With Valentine's Day just around the corner, business etiquette expert Pat Stonehouse offers guidelines on how to manage romance in the office. Although romance at work is commonplace, it can still be problematic. It's inevitable that people will meet coworkers that they would like to date, considering they spend nearly a third of their time at work with people of similar backgrounds and interests. After all, didn't President Obama and the First Lady meet at work?

According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com, 40% of respondents revealed that they have dated a coworker, with 18% indicating two or more such relationships. Of those who have dated a fellow employee, 34% have resulted in marriage.

Dating someone in the office can be tricky. So as Valentine's Day approaches, here are the guidelines from Stonehouse.

- Keep your relationship private until you have been dating for a while and you are real sure that you want it to go public.
- Know your company's interoffice dating policy. Some companies have a no fraternization policy.
- Don't date your boss or anyone who is your direct chain of command. If you choose to date someone whom you report to, ask to be transferred to another department to avoid any conflict of interest and accusations of favoritism.
- Refrain from holding hands, flirting, kissing, sex in the office and any other displays of affection that could make co-workers feel uncomfortable.
- Avoid broadcasting your personal relationship on social networks for all to see. You never know who might be reading your Twitter or Facebook.
- Consider sending flowers or gifts to the home, not the office. People you work with do not need to see Valentine's Day gifts or cards.
- Keep your business and personal life separate. Don't flaunt your personal life or share personal information about each other at work. Avoid bringing any fights or personal conflicts into the office. Be cautious about what you share with colleagues since very few people can keep a secret.
- Refrain from sending X-rated e-mail or valentine cards to each other. E-mail is never private and you do not know who may see it.

The bottom line is to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. It's risky dating someone with whom you work, for fear that the relationship doesn't stand the test of time. If the relationship does fall apart remember to be mature, respectful and never kiss and tell.

About Pat Stonehouse

Pat Stonehouse is the President of Advancing With Style, offering corporate training in business etiquette, image consulting and international business protocol.

During her career she has worked with over 600 companies and delivered more than 1,500 seminars worldwide. Her client list includes many notable organizations, including American Express, Stryker, Citigroup, Liebherr, Merrill Lynch, Black & McDonald, Xerox and IBM.

Advancing With Style has offices in Palm Beach, Florida and Toronto, Canada. An exclusive executive program is offered in the Thousand Islands.

Website: http://advancingwithstyle.com

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