Western Courier

Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: Opinion

Skylar Partridge/Cartoonist

It's a tough world out there, especially as a college student whose life exists on two planes. There's still the mentality that you have to have as much fun as possible, yet you also have to seriously consider your future, and all the while you have homework, activities and relationships to maintain.

Chances are that in this financial climate several of you also hold down a job or two so you can pay for school and still have money for beer on the weekends. With that in mind, having a workforce whose hormones are raging out of control and who may not always make the best life decisions can result in the workplace changing into a dating pool.

Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little office romance. After all, it worked for Jim and Pam from the TV show "The office." In fact, people must have a love affair with workplace romance, as these types of flirtations seem to be the driving force behind several popular television shows. However, if in your day-to-day reality you find that one of your co-workers pushes all the right buttons on the control panel to your sex drive, there are several things to consider before embarking down the path to their mattress.

For one, if you are going to dip into the company ink, don't make it a habit. No one wants to be known as the office bicycle, and sleeping around can cause an insane amount of drama and tension. It's not like picking someone up at a bar in that if things don't work out or you have a one-night stand the chances of seeing him or her again are significantly less. Your co-workers are people that you will still have to see day after day.

With that said, because seeing these people again is a definite, if you initiate a liaison with a fellow employee, be sure that you are mature enough to handle seeing them again in the case of breakups or spontaneous sleepovers. Nothing is more awkward than having to work closely with someone after you've seen him or her naked and it didn't work out, not to mention it can lead to a loss in performance and the possibility of termination.

Also, you want to keep your work environment a neutral place. No one wants to see extreme public displays of affection at the workplace, listen to your gooey/naughty talk or deal with the fallout if your affair ends badly. If you can find a secret place to sneak a kiss (or more, strictly your call) now and then, so be it, but don't subject your co-workers to sloppy, spit-stringed tongue kisses and full-on groping. Save that for the Christmas party when you can blame it on the alcohol.

Workplace dalliances can work out, but you have to be smart about how they are carried out. As long as you are mature and professional about it, there's no reason not to give them a whirl.

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