Hooked up with a Co-Worker at the Holiday Office Party and Wondering what to Do?
- Friday, December 24 2010 @ 09:03 am
- Contributed by: kellyseal
- Views: 1,948
There’s no doubt about it: the holidays can make you do things that you might not entertain at other times of the year. Office parties are no exception. They offer a great release from the stress of work, a chance to just hang and have fun. But alcohol and co-workers sometimes don’t mix.
So what happens if you hook up with a co-worker in the heat of the moment, after a few *censored*tails at the office holiday party? Should you just avoid eye contact for a couple of weeks, waiting for the whole thing to fade away into a distant memory? Or should you come clean on a secret crush you’ve been harboring?
When it comes to co-workers, it’s best to keep work and play separate. Even if you are a colleague with your object of affection rather than a subordinate or supervisor, things can get messy when you see the person on a regular basis. But if you’ve already crossed that line and are wondering what to do, there are a few things I suggest to make things bearable.
First, don’t beat yourself up. Maybe you didn’t want to lead your co-worker on, but now he has a mad crush on you since your hook-up. Instead of avoiding the breakroom, have a conversation with him. Tell him up front that you’re not interested in a relationship. Sure, it might be uncomfortable for a few days, but better this than making excuses and avoiding him for an indefinite period of time.
If you’re harboring a secret crush and despite hooking up, you aren’t sure if he feels the same way, it’s time to have an honest conversation. If you want a relationship, let him know, but be prepared that he might not feel the same way. Don’t play coy…if you try to act like it’s no big deal, you’ll hurt yourself in the long-run. Own up to your feelings, it’s ok to have them.
Most notably, if your job is important to you and your company has guidelines about who you can and can’t date, it’s best to follow them. You don’t want to risk your chances of being promoted, or worse, being let go. Leave your hook-up as a one-time occurrence and move on, keeping your love life out of the office.
So what happens if you hook up with a co-worker in the heat of the moment, after a few *censored*tails at the office holiday party? Should you just avoid eye contact for a couple of weeks, waiting for the whole thing to fade away into a distant memory? Or should you come clean on a secret crush you’ve been harboring?
When it comes to co-workers, it’s best to keep work and play separate. Even if you are a colleague with your object of affection rather than a subordinate or supervisor, things can get messy when you see the person on a regular basis. But if you’ve already crossed that line and are wondering what to do, there are a few things I suggest to make things bearable.
First, don’t beat yourself up. Maybe you didn’t want to lead your co-worker on, but now he has a mad crush on you since your hook-up. Instead of avoiding the breakroom, have a conversation with him. Tell him up front that you’re not interested in a relationship. Sure, it might be uncomfortable for a few days, but better this than making excuses and avoiding him for an indefinite period of time.
If you’re harboring a secret crush and despite hooking up, you aren’t sure if he feels the same way, it’s time to have an honest conversation. If you want a relationship, let him know, but be prepared that he might not feel the same way. Don’t play coy…if you try to act like it’s no big deal, you’ll hurt yourself in the long-run. Own up to your feelings, it’s ok to have them.
Most notably, if your job is important to you and your company has guidelines about who you can and can’t date, it’s best to follow them. You don’t want to risk your chances of being promoted, or worse, being let go. Leave your hook-up as a one-time occurrence and move on, keeping your love life out of the office.
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