Seven Rules Of Office Romance

First, do a double take

Dating someone from work will not be easy, so don't act on your first fleeting desire. Stop and ask yourself, "Am I really into this person?" If the answer's "No," or even "Not Really," it may be best to continue pursuing love outside the office.

Take it slow

Try to develop a genuine personal friendship first. This way you can simultaneously increase your certainty about your interest and hedge your bets against making an unwanted advance.

Discuss "What if..."

Most relationships don't last forever, so be prepared for this one ending, too. Talk about how you'll handle working together or moving on professionally like mature adults if a potential romance ended up on the rocks.

Honesty is the best policy

Many people try to hide office relationships, but most are found out. Covert ops will only damage trust with other co-workers, and that's bad for business. Besides, if you feel you really have something to hide, it might be because you're doing something that's actually inappropriate.

Keep the PDA PC

No doubt it's confusing when work and love are all jumbled together, but the only thing you should get caught "making" at work is more money for your company. People might overlook a brief holding of hands or polite peck in certain situations, but foolin' around on your boss' desk will bring serious consequences.

Remember your other relationships.

You may be dating one of your colleagues, but you're still working with many more. You stand to score big professionally if you continue to demonstrate generosity and care with everyone and hold your significant other accountable as a consummate professional instead of playing favorites.

Take it to the next level.

Congratulations if work brought you and your partner together, but it will take much more to stay together. Take care to not let the office overrun conversation when you're off the clock, and proactively seek other passions you can share. Mutual devotion to all kinds of hobbies and community causes has been known to make couples fall in love all over again!