Katharina Buczek
If you date a superior, an inherent power imbalance is created in your relationship. Suddenly, the person you’re climbing into bed with also has the power to sway your performance reviews or promotion opportunities.
This can lead to toxicity in your relationship and create an unfair playing field for your coworkers.
Not to mention, seeing any kind of colleague, whether they’re a supervisor or not, may eliminate the boundary between your work life and your personal life.
It’s important to have that distinction so you can mentally “clock out.” When that line is blurred, you may feel that some of your work-life balance is compromised.
Finally, if you date someone who is on “your level” in the office, there are still other concerns, such as team dynamics shifting. And if you two ultimately break up, the fallout could make working together, as well as with others, awkward or uncomfortable.
What Are The Career Impacts?
While plenty of people have met “the one” at work, this outcome isn’t guaranteed, and there are immediate drawbacks.
For starters, no matter if you agree with this or not, many people still find in-office romances to be unprofessional. Regardless of whether you are abiding by your company’s policy, the news of your in-office relationship could potentially damage your professional reputation.
You may be confided in less if colleagues believe you will share your discussions with your partner. Or, if any inkling of favoritism becomes apparent between you and your partner, it can make tensions rise quickly.
And, of course, if you ultimately split up, the emotional impacts can bleed into your professional life. You may find it hard to remain cordial in the office or stay on top of your work.
This has the potential to impede performance, strain your relationships with other colleagues, and make you lose out on opportunities.
