Dipping Your Pen in the Company Ink

By Allison Berman
September 2, 2008

I landed a job after college at a company with a great training program so it attracted a number of young people. The corporate culture was to work hard and play hard. The company did a great job of promoting from within and tried to create a "team" environment in part by sponsoring a corporate softball team. After the games we wandered from central park to the local bar where execs took us lowly analysts out for drinks on a company tab. We talked shop- planning sales and marketing strategies long after the work day was over. It was great for productivity but what I don't think anyone in human resources counted on was the number of relationships that blossomed over a beer. I know because I was in one.

I don't in anyway condone John Edward's having an affair. In fact I was very disappointed when the story broke because it colored my perception of him as a family man. That said I can understand how easily relationships blossom with co-workers. Office romances actually make a lot of sense. You are surrounded by people who have similar interests, educational backgrounds and value systems. You know your co-workers passed human resource's interview process so theoretically they are "safe" unlike some of the unsavory characters you could meet at a bar.

Simply put, it is really easy to date someone you work with, and it might even be easier than dating someone you don't. You get up in the morning, go to work, you work late into the evening- at which point you go home tired only to do it all over again the next day. There is a practicality to dating someone you work with; it means you get to see your significant other. If you date someone outside the office when would you see him/her? But my bigger question is where else do you meet someone if you are practically living at the office?

When I started working I channeled all of my energy into proving myself at my job (which meant coming in early and leaving late). I noticed a co-worker of mine doing the same. He was tall, handsome, smart, and lots of fun. We became friendly at softball and flirted a bit at the bars afterwards, but I didn't really think beyond us being co-workers. That is until he invited me to go with him to a Cognac Hennessy Jazz event. We started dating shortly thereafter.

Dating at work is easy but breaking up at work is tough. Even though we kept our private life private (both while we dated and when we broke up), seeing my ex every day made it hard to move on personally; and I really didn't until I left the company. I refocused my attention on my new job and enjoying being single. When I started dating again I met my husband, it was a co-worker who introduced us. There is just something about offices and romance.

Allison Berman, an artist and mother of two, handpaints custom home accessories for interior designers and private customers. She works out of her home studio in Warwick, NY. See her collection at www.withlovealib.com. She can be reached at ali@withlovealib.com. Her column appears Tuesdays.