How To Date A Co-worker And Not Get Fired

Mixing work and romance is a tricky business.

- Sophia Benoit

JIM AND PAM. LESLIE AND BEN. MULDER AND SCULLY. MINDY AND DANNY. MEREDITH AND DEREK – actually, pretty much everyone on every Shondaland show. A lot of TV’s most beloved couples met in the office, even if, in reality, workplace romances are still somewhat taboo. According to one survey, around 17.5% of couples met at work, beating out social media and online dating combined. Since proximity is the single biggest predictor of falling in love with someone, and we spend more than a third of our waking life in the office, it’s not surprising that some co-workers catch feelings for each other.

One reason dating a co-worker appeals to a lot of folks is that you often have the same interests and social circles. A civil engineer doesn’t have to spend time explaining to someone like me what a “plasticity truss model” is if they just date another civil engineer.

Now, office romances don’t spring up