Archive for the ‘Office Flirting’ Category
Every company has policies regarding co-worker relationships, and flirting in the office fits into that section, so before you engage in anything it is best to check out your company policies lest you get yourself in trouble. Often times these company policies are not widely known and are found in the employee handbook that people seldom actually look at.
Regardless of whether they are stated to you or hidden in the handbook, you are responsible for knowing how your company feels about relationships in the office. On the other hand, office relationships aren’t all bad and can lead to lifetime relationships. Sometimes one person in the relationship will leave the company if the policies do not allow inter-office relationships, as the romance is sometimes thought to be more beneficial than the job.
Advantages of Office Flirting
When two people are attracted to one another, flirting is likely to occur, especially when they work with one another on a regular basis. Often times people don’t realize that they are flirting, as friendly interaction often leads to flirting in the office. One advantage to office flirting is that it is convenient as people are together frequently and regularly. It is a way to make the day more exciting, and in some cases, a reason for people to return to work on a daily basis.
Flirting makes people feel confident, and hence they are likely to perform their duties better because of their confidence level being boosted. Flirting in and of itself is harmless if both parties are aware and agree with the office flirting, but there are times when it is not okay because either one party doesn’t oblige or the flirting goes too far and develops into a problem.
Disadvantages of Office Flirting
Office flirting, when not agreed upon by both parties frequently becomes what is known as sexual harassment. Most companies will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment and typically it results in termination of a person’s position. Sexual harassment is the act of making a person uncomfortable because of sexual connotation, be it physically or verbally. This could be anything from a co-worker saying someone else is attractive, to physically touching another coworker inappropriately.
Sexual harassment does not have to be overt, and even the slightest of comments or actions are subject to investigation. Sexual harassment cases, because of the frequently private nature of office flirting is usually a case of he-said-she-said, and regardless of witnesses or lack thereof the officials typically favor on the side of the victim. Office flirting is not a crime, it should just be tailored to each situation, and everyone should be sensitive to the possible problems that can result from flirting in the office.
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