 There’s no denying it happens: cupid strikes in the cubicle, across the table during a meeting or in the boardroom. It’s no wonder. Co-workers tend to have interests in common and spend much of the time five days a week in close proximity. So all it takes is adding a spark of attraction to the mix and romance can blossom in the workplace.
In fact, it apparently blossoms a lot. Results of a new study by Vault.com reveal nearly 60 percent of people admit to having office romances.
"Everyone knows someone who has been involved with an office romance. Another recent study shows about 15 percent of married couples met through work," Kay J. Bunch, Ph.D., of the Department of Managerial Sciences in Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, tells Synergy. "And that’s a lot of people."
However just because office romances are common, doesn’t mean they’re always a good idea. In fact, affairs of the heart between people in the same workplace result in personal and professional troubles every day. That doesn’t mean your on-the-job love story can’t have a happy ending. However, it makes sense to consider the potential pitfalls of an office romance.
 So what’s the problem with love?Often, when the subject of co-workers having a personal romantic relationship comes up, so does the issue of sexual harassment. "Employers do worry about sexual harassment lawsuits, of course. However, if that comes up, it’s very rare that an employee is going to win a sexual harassment case," says Dr. Bunch, who teaches employment law.
Instead of harassment, most on-the-job personal relationships are mutual and personal. However that doesn’t mean they can’t spark problems that can impact everything from productivity to career advancement.
For example, Dr. Bunch points out that although this is the 21st century, women are still not moving up the corporate ladder in large numbers. Career damaging stereotypes about women in the workplace may play a role in this – and dating a higher up can hurt, not help the situation.
"Unfortunately, when a woman is dating someone in the company and she’s promoted it can perpetuate negative stereotypes of women and the idea that whom she’s dating had something to do with her advancement," Dr. Bunch notes. "It’s an unfair cultural bias most people don’t want to admit to, but it is pervasive and it does tend to undermine women career-wise."
 Other potential office romance pitfalls:
The drama factor. Surveys show that about half of employees questioned say they were affected negatively by office relationships. Break-ups in particular can be especially disruptive in a small office environment. "Your workplace of 20 people or so may seem almost like a family and if two people start dating and it doesn’t end well, it can be difficult for the rest of the office," Dr. Bunch explains. In addition, if a married employee is having an affair with a co-worker, the impact can be emotionally upsetting to those in the know.
Romance resentment. You may be advancing because you’re the most qualified and doing the best job. However if you are dating a person who has a higher level position in your company than you do – even if you don’t directly report to him or her – it can cause resentment. In addition, Dr. Bunch points out that co-workers who know you are dating someone you work with may assume you are canoodling on the job and not being as productive as you should be. "It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not. What matters is that the perception can cause disruption," she tells Synergy.
Company policies on office romanceAccording to Dr. Bunch, companies vary widely on their policies concerning office romances. "Some actually have a ‘sanitized workplace’ policy that even forbids flirting. Others go to the other extreme and say ‘we don’t care what you do just don’t break any laws.’ Still others say you can’t date a co-worker unless you tell your manager – but what is a manager supposed to do?" she states.
Clearly, if you are dating a person with the power to promote or fire you, it brings up uncomfortable issues – including favoritism. "So I think policies that say you can’t date anyone you supervise make the most sense," Dr. Bunch says. "I think it’s smart for a company to have a stated policy such as one that outlines that you can date someone as long as you don’t report them or as long as you are at the same level or if they are in a different department."
Bottom line: whether or not your company permits it, your smartest move is to not date people who are in a position to promote you or evaluate your performance. "If you are really serious about your career,"
Dr. Bunch says, "look into another way to find a date."
If you do fall madly in love with a person in your workplace, you might find yourself out of a job if you decide to get married. "Some companies have rules that you can’t marry a co-worker," Dr. Bunch explains. "Unfortunately, the consequences are that one of you has to leave and most of the time it is the person making less money, usually the woman, and that can be another blow to a woman trying to move up the corporate ladder."
Before you start dating a co-worker, think about the possible consequences with your head instead of only with your heart. That’s especially important if you are just starting a new job.
"Pay attention to the culture of the organization before you get involved with dating a person you work with. Some companies may say it’s your choice whether to date a co-worker, but the reality might be no one actually dates anyone else in the company and it really isn’t an espoused value," Dr. Bunch advises.
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