Have you ever had a workplace romance? Is it common for people to date people they meet at work?

Spending a good chunk of our waking hours around the same people naturally allows us to get to know them better and become more comfortable talking, joking, laughing—maybe even flirting. This is how a workplace romance begins.
This time of the year is ripe for work flings. Office parties are the ultimate hook up hunting grounds.
But studies show that the more alone time you spend with someone, the more likely you are to develop feelings for them. This is called the exposure principle.
Of those who dated at work, CareerBuilder found that, 30% said their office romances lead to marriage.
Hospitality had the most people who said they had dated a colleague, information technology came next, followed by financial services, healthcare and professional & business services.
CareerBuilder also asked about where romantic relationships began. Among the answers: running into each other outside work: 12%, happy hours: 12%, late nights at work: 12%, at lunch: 11%. (Retrieved from http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=2%2F13%2F2014&id=pr803&ed=12%2F31%2F2014)

What are the pros for dating people at work?

Office fling can definitely spice up your life. And don’t forget the mating ground that is the office party. They are exciting taboo and easy to fall into.
Factors in your favor include the fact that working together may allow you to observe this person’s strengths and weaknesses in a non-dating environment.
You may have already seen how he or she handles stress and treats peers.
There’s also a good chance that, working for the same employer, the two of you enjoy similar work hours and holidays.
You also bring to a new relationship a shared “world,” complete with friends, colleagues, goals, and even values.

What are the cons for dating people at work?

You can create a bad reputation for yourself. Don’t: Let Office Hookups Earn You A Reputation. The last thing you want is to be known more for your side play than your work. But don’t start looking at your office as a place to pick up eligible singles. There are lots of options out there, and a coworker might be appealing because she’s convenient or because the whole thing is naughty by nature.
You can get busted by surveillance or HR and get fired. Even if your company policy doesn’t explicitly state anything against engaging in romantic relationships at the office, don’t give HR a reason to add a clause when the two of you get caught going at it.
Avoid relationships with those you supervise or are supervised. If things get messy they have the power to make your job hell. Also, HR usually has policies about this.

Final Thoughts about workplace romance?

Make Sure It’s Worth It, since you will be creating a potential for awkwardness and problems in your workplace.
Do: Review Your Company’s Policy
“If it’s strictly against the rules and you have your dream job, think twice before becoming involved with a coworker.
Do: Talk About The Worst Case Scenario. Breakups are messy, and are doubly messy when you have to see and work with your ex every day. Before things get too serious, lay out a clear plan of action with your potential partner on how you both promise to handle things if it doesn’t work out. Do not break up at work.
When it comes to work, make sure you treat the coworker your dating just like you would any other coworker — and save the special treatment for after office hours

Workplace Romance