The Best Places to Flirt at Work

A decade ago you weren’t supposed to have an office romance but today, some companies encourage them, saying that office relationships increase company loyalty and business productivity. As a result, you might see more than just the birds and bees coupling this spring. Instead, you’ll start to notice a few office romances starting to bloom.

However, even though office romances are gaining more acceptance, you still need to act professional. That doesn’t mean that you need to hide your relationship but rather there is a time and place to sneak a minute or two of flirtation.

Here are five great places to flirt with your “colleague” that won’t get you into trouble:

The Kitchen

Food is the way to anyone’s heart – especially your coworkers in the middle of a long day. Consider bringing in a healthy sweet treat on a random day, and then send an email to let your coworkers know there are delicacies in the kitchen. Before you know it, everyone will jump up and gather in the kitchen, giving you an opportune time to chat with your crush.

Remember when you were in high school and a simple “hello” from the captain of the swim team made your day? Same rule still applies; a quick chat could be the pick-me-up you needed to finish up the report you’ve been working on all week.

The Office Copiers

You probably didn’t even realize it but you make your way to the office copiers 10 times a day. Whether you are sending a fax, scanning a document or printing out a report, your business’ copier is a well-visited machine.

As a result, use this machine to your advantage; next time you know you need to print something out, send a quick email to your office crush and tell him or her to print something out too. That way, you have some company as you wait for your documents to print.

Tip: color documents tend to print slower.

The Water Cooler or Coffee Machine

The water cooler and coffee machine save professionals daily. It’s crucial that workers stay hydrated and it’s important that professionals stay awake. So the next time you need a cup of either, wink at your office interest to follow you over to the coffee machine. This will give you an opportunity to catch up on how their day is going.

Likewise, take a break by the water cooler. The most important thing to remember, however, is don’t take too long of a break and don’t put your other responsibilities on the back burner.

Outside the Bathroom

Depending on where your bathroom is located, your walk to the bathroom is a chance to meet up with your office fling. Although not the most romantic idea, it is subtle – the key trait to have in an office romance.

Places NOT to flirt at work

It’s neither professional nor wise to parade your relationship around the office. Yes, everyone might already know about it but that doesn’t mean you should steal kisses in the middle of the lunchroom. In addition, sneaking in a few minutes of flirtation here and there is what makes the relationship exciting.

The two places you should not flirt at work include:

Your Cubicle: You know how distracting it can be to have your coworker on the phone with someone for long periods of time. In the same respect, it’s not the best idea to flirt with someone in front of your neighboring cubicles. It’s distracting as well as unprofessional.

The Lunchroom: You might think that lunchtime is the perfect time to sit down and have a break with your office romance, but in reality, it isn’t. Lunch is the time when you should be socializing with many of your coworkers, not just one. The one thing you don’t want to do at work is seclude yourself from the overall work environment.

You shouldn’t feel guilty about having an office romance but always keep it professional. These five places are good to have a quick chat and won’t take too much time away from your work responsibilities.

 

Sylvia Rosen is an online writer with a background in newspaper journalism. She enjoys writing about dating, relationships and healthy lifestyles.