Times have changed. At one time, dating a coworker was considered taboo by almost everyone. Now that our lives revolve so much around work, this issue is up for debate. Wise professionals, however, still shy away from the practice, and you will see less of this risky behavior as you move in executive circles. Women, in particular, have learned the hard way that dating a coworker is a no-win situation. The relationship may hold a woman back or, even worse, may become baggage that she has to carry throughout a
successful career. Many capable women have been falsely accused of sleeping their way to the top. One thing most professionals will agree on, however, is that the only safe way to avoid complications is not taking the risk of dating a coworker. Here are just a few of the reasons:

• Eventually, most dating relationships end. Usually at least one
person is not that big a fan of the other at the end of the relationship. When an employee dates someone outside the workplace, the two can go their separate ways without having to live with constant reminders of the soured relationship. Does anyone really want to have to live with the daily discomfort of being the villain who dumped a coworker or the unpleasant reminder each day of having been the dumpee?

• Coworkers who date can polarize a department. Even adults fall
prey to taking sides when conflicts erupt. Only a very naive person
can think that teamwork doesn’t suffer.

• Promoting one employee over the other can get sticky when
everyone knows that they are a couple. One of the partners may
not seek his or her full career potential because of not wanting to
compete against his or her mate. Conversely, the competition can
get brutal and personal.

• One or both employees may experience real pain after the breakup.
It is easier to put on a brave game face and throw oneself into work if everyone at work doesn’t know both partners and their history.

• A mutually consensual dating relationship may later be termed
harassment by an embittered partner. Employees put themselves
and the company at risk when they date a coworker. The consensual
part usually boils down to one person’s word against the other. Is it really worth the risk?

Taken From: 201 Ways to Turn Any Employee Into a STAR Performer