In the US, a lot of places advise against or have rules against dating coworkers (although this is not universal). We even have a phrase for this, “Don’t shit where you eat.” I guess the idea is it can get awkward or worse in the workplace if you have a bad breakup.
How is dating coworkers viewed in your country?
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We have the same saying, and “don’t dip your pen in the company ink”, but it’s still pretty common. Especially at large companies who tend to get a sizeable graduate intake every year or so – no way you can stop those horny 21/22 yr olds hooking up.
At my company you just have to declare it in your HR record if there is a conflict of interest, like one of you has access to amend payee bank details and the other works in payroll.
It’s pretty common and acceptable. People are only expected to come forward, if they are in some kind of supervisor situation, so that this can be rearranged. I know so many couples who met in a workplace situation, that I’d say it’s more common than not. We have several married or LTR couples at my work place. Most people think it’s just normal, because at some point in your life, it’s the place you spend most time at and other options become more difficult, especially in smaller towns. I remember that some American company (I think Walmart) wanted to enforce a no dating policy in I think Germany and it had a bad backlash when it made the news, because in most of Europe people are convinced that who you date is not even remotely your employer’s business. Of course, after a break-up things might become awkward, so proceed with caution and it’s probably not advisable to hook up with everyone present at the Christmas party. But a genuine relationship? No big deal.
We also have the expression “don’t shit where you eat”, but it means don’t fuck your housemates nothing to do with coworkers. Work is the main place adults meet new people so it’s perfectly normal, natural and acceptable to date each other, especially considering having gone into the same line of work automatically gives you a common interest, and probably other related interests too. The company forbidding relationships seems like a pretty draconian overreach of their authority
If anyone would try to put up such a law, or even dare to enforce this, they would get fucked by the courts and the public. Your employer has no business in your private life and you cannot fire anybody without a real reason. This would be discriminatory and illegal
It’s only a rule in big corporations (my friend long time ago had to get a special permission to join our company because his wife worked in a totally different department). It’s due to potential conflict of interests which is funny taken that most of the hires are through refferal.
Other companies don’t really care.
It happens regularly, I know several people who met their partner at work. I don’t think anyone cares as long as you don’t act all couple-y at work. At work you’re not boyfriend and girlfriend but coworker and coworker so you’re expected to act like it.
Though I do know a manager who’s dating someone from his own team and people definitely have opinions about that.
One does not shit where one eats. People who you work with are not your friends, they are strangers who happen to work in the same place as you, and most of them would sold you out for pettiest shit if it advanced their position.
I don’t socialize with any of my co-workers, I leave conversations when they get personal, I don’t attend teambuilding events and I keep demeanor of cold, detached professionalism at all times.
I’m there to do a job and get paid, not to make friends and socialize, let alone date.
I know loads of people who met their partners on the job, either as direct colleagues or in other department at the dame workplace… sure, it can get awkward when break-ups occur, but adults should be able to manage that.
In workplaces with specific hiërarchy i would assume notice should be given, but don’t think anybody would demand to end a relationship
It’s socially acceptable and i know several couples who met at work.
Having a group of coworkers of roughly the same age and no kids, working long hours, it was natural to want to go for a beer afterwards. Some have become good friends and stayed that way even long after changing jobs. Some have become life partners / have gotten married.
I know a few that eventually broke up, while still working at the same company. Whatever happened in their private life was between them, but, being adults, they were able to still work together when needed.