Dating at Work Vs Dating Online

Recent research has shown that there are many people still getting romantically involved with their co-workers. The 2008 Harlequin Office Report showed that a third of men and women confess to having had sex with a co-worker. And studies referred to in Fortune and GQ magazines indicate that between one fifth and one half of all offices romances result in marriage.

This is surprising considering that numerous workplaces have policies discouraging such relationships. The rationale behind many of these is that office romances create distractions and tensions that limit productivity. Then there are all those politically correct sexual harassment codes, which surely must dampen the ardor of many!

But it seems that love still manages to find a way against the odds. I suspect the reason is mainly because you get to know people quite well when performing tasks together. It's a trust builder. Familiarity and affection follow, and love eventually grows.

If you date a co-worker you also have shared interests, not to mention all that office gossip to catch up on. If you are working for a political or religious organization then this could give you a deep sense of camaraderie and connection.

But serious problems occur if the relationship goes pear-shaped. A certain percentage of these romances will break down over time. It's just a statistical certainty. It would be deeply stressful to have to work with someone you have grown to detest. Worse still, what if you still adore someone, and they have ceased feeling the same way about you? There can be nothing more depressing than having to see the person who broke your heart every day. And what if he or she then has another office romance with someone else? That's even more salt to the wound!

For people who have experienced such a hurtful situation (or dread it happening in the future) there is an alternative: online dating. By using these sites you can get to know people who share your interests, and spiritual and political views. You can also target prospective mates by age, appearance, location and other characteristics.

The downside is that it's a lot less organic than getting to know someone "in situ". It could be argued that it's less secure as well.

However, using dating sites is certainly a lot less complicated than looking for love at work. If and when the relationship does end, you at least know that you will be able to move on emotionally much quicker. For those who prize self determination over all things, online dating is certainly the more sensible option.