Should you ever mix your romantic relationships with your business? The workplace is one of the top places to find a partner, but what are the pros and cons of having a romantic relationship with someone you work with?
There are plenty of examples of this being a big problem, but there are also cases when it could work perfectly. Indeed, there seems to be a lot of husband and wife dental teams out there that run a successful business together with no problems. So, should you actively avoid relationships at work, or can the two go hand in hand?
Serious relationships are the only ones that work
In general, serious relationships are the only ones that will work when you mix business and pleasure. If you have a fling with someone, or you’re not sure about your future together, it is usually a recipe for disaster. You’ll break up, then have to deal with the awkward atmosphere at work – which can affect people other than you two. Sides might be chosen, a toxic work environment is created, and it just doesn’t work out.
But, if you are in a serious relationship, there’s no reason that working together will be a problem. Married couples work together all the time, and it is completely fine. This is because you’re already committed to one another, so there’s less risk of things not working out and causing problems throughout the business.
It could provide a better work-life balance
Being around the person you care about at work can improve your work-life balance. You get to spend more time together – granted, you will be working for the most part. But, you can share breaks and lunches, have conversations throughout the day – it’s just better than being apart from one another all the time.
Plus, you operate on the same schedule. This makes it easier to sort things out, like childcare. You can share your responsibilities at home because the two of you work the same hours all the time. It can make your relationship a lot better!
Possibly improve work performance
Similarly, working with someone you know and care about can actually improve your work performance. You work well as a team, so you can be more productive and come up with better ideas together. After all, some of the best ideas come when you’re at home talking to your spouse about your day. Usually, having their perspective can shine a light on things you might have missed. So, this could happen at work and mean that the business improves.
All in all, mixing romantic relationships and business can be a beneficial combination – but only when the two of you are already in a strong relationship. It’s unwise to date someone that you work with, especially if you are their boss. Complications tend to arise when things don’t work out, and they can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the business. Working with your spouse or long-term partner can be beneficial, but starting a relationship with someone in the office may not be the best idea.
