5 Rules of Office Dating Etiquette

If you clicked on this article hoping to find tips on telling your coworkers that you're in love with the person in charge, then you've come to the wrong place. Dating a boss -- or dating a person who directly reports to you -- is a huge taboo in the world of office dating. Some companies may have policies that require you to disclose the relationship, but even if your workplace is lenient in allowing such romances, it's best to avoid the situation. Either ask for a reassignment, or find a new job if you believe this romance is real. If you don't, you'll likely be caught up in some nasty power struggles or allegations of preferential treatment.

You're in love! And you want to shout it from your cubicle! But if the guy you love is in a nearby cubicle, you need to keep your mouth shut and your hands off each other. Even in the most polite offices, gossip spreads fast, particularly juicy items about interoffice couples. Don't share all the details of your new man with the gals in the office bathroom -- after all, while he's your coworker, he's their coworker too, and you don't want to affect how your partner is seen in the workplace. And even if you're tempted to smooch your new lady every time you pass her desk or hold her hand during a staff meeting, you must resist the urge. Not only is such behavior tacky, you could be risking your job if people think you're romancing, not working, from 9 to 5.

On the last page, we advised against displays of public affection in the office. So if you can't squeeze in a hug in the break room, then surely a quick e-mail telling your beloved some sweet things is OK, right? Wrong! Though you may send hundreds of messages each day, don't think you can slip in a few to your new special someone on the corporate e-mail system. You never know who's reading your office correspondence, and you don't want to leave a trail of evidence that your weren't working.

And while it may seem unfair, you should also keep your romance off your Facebook and Twitter, particularly if you maintain online connections with coworkers or your boss. Remember, people have been fired or not hired for things they said on social media platforms, so don't say anything there that you wouldn't say in the office.

Your office sweetheart has hours of expense reports to fill out, and as it turns out, you've been gifted with a stunning ability to fill out hundreds of reports in less than five minutes. Unless you're known for helping out everyone with their expense reports, don't do your boyfriend or girlfriend's. The quickest way to turn all of your coworkers against you is to provide special treatment to your significant other, and some coworkers may be hyper-sensitive to displays of favoritism. Don't answer for your significant other in meetings or take on his or her battles with the boss. You didn't magically become a work team when you went on your first date, so fight the urge to help out on something that should be your significant other's responsibility.

Love -- it can make it hard to concentrate. You can daydream for hours about your special someone. And when they're just a few cubicles down, then you can see the object of your affection whenever you want! Careful there, Romeo and Juliet. You still need to do your job satisfactorily, unless you'd like to get fired (which would eliminate the difficulty of interoffice dating, but would bring infinitely more complications). Don't take overly long lunches or drop by your sweetheart's office every 15 minutes. Stay at your desk and get your work done. After all, completing your work means you won't have to put in any overtime, which allows for more time for fun, outside-the-office dates.