So, you’ve got a crush at work. Don’t lie — I know you do. Maybe it started with them bringing you coffee that one morning, or maybe it was that time they stayed late to help you finish a report and you were like, “Wow, who are you and why am I suddenly imagining us grocery shopping together on a Sunday?”
Welcome to the most confusing question of adulthood: Should I date a coworker?
Let’s be honest — this is either the beginning of your “cute love story we tell at our wedding” era or the reason you’ll start eating lunch in your car for the next six months. There is no in-between.
Why Dating a Coworker Sounds So Tempting
First off, it makes sense. You spend eight hours a day with these people, five days a week. Of course, you’re going to find someone attractive. Dating apps are full of weird DMs and guys holding fish in their profile pics, but at work? You get to actually see how this person operates under pressure, how they talk to people, how they deal with Karen from accounting. It’s like a real-life compatibility test.
And let’s not lie — the little secret smiles during meetings? The shared eye-roll when your boss says “circle back”? The inside jokes on Slack? That’s rom-com level chemistry right there.
Plus, dating someone from work makes the 9-to-5 grind a lot less soul-sucking. You’ve got someone to grab lunch with, someone who gets exactly why you hate Monday morning stand-ups, and someone to laugh with about that super awkward client call.
The Reality Check (AKA: The Messy Part)
Okay, here’s the thing. Workplace dating can also be a hot mess. If it works, great. If it doesn’t? You’re about to become the star of your own office drama series.
You can’t exactly ghost them when you break up — they’re still sitting three desks away. You can’t block them — you literally have to reply to their emails. And the breakroom will never feel the same.
Then there’s the gossip factor. The minute one person finds out, congratulations, you’re now everyone’s favorite lunchtime topic. HR might get involved if there’s a power difference, and if your boss is old-school, they might side-eye you forever.
Questions You Should Probably Ask Yourself
Before you jump in, maybe pause and ask yourself:
- Is this worth risking my job over? (No, seriously. Check company policy first.)
- Am I into them or just bored? Work crushes can feel super intense because you’re stuck in the same space all day.
- Could I handle seeing them every single day if we break up? If your answer is “lol no,” maybe rethink this.
- Are they even single? Don’t turn the office into a soap opera, please.
If You’re Gonna Do It, Do It Right
Alright, let’s say you’ve thought it through and you’re ready to shoot your shot. Here’s how not to turn your office into a reality TV show:
- Keep it chill at first. Don’t tell the entire office the second you grab a drink together. Feel things out before it becomes a thing.
- Leave PDA at the door. No flirty touching by the coffee machine, no giggling in meetings like you’re in high school, and for the love of HR, no “work anniversary” couple TikToks filmed in the office.
- Talk about the “what if we break up” scenario early. It sounds weird, but it can save you both so much awkwardness if things go sideways.
- Don’t let it tank your performance. If your boss notices your productivity tank because you’re too busy making heart eyes, that’s a problem.
Final Verdict
Dating a coworker can be amazing… or a disaster. It’s risky, but so is ordering sushi from a gas station at midnight — and sometimes, the risk pays off.
If you’re into them, if you both are mature enough to handle it, and if you’ve thought through the consequences, then sure, shoot your shot. Worst case, you get a little office drama to keep things interesting. Best case? You get a built-in lunch date for life.
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when everyone in accounting suddenly starts asking for “the tea.”
