How Movies Can Help You Deal with Romance at the Workplace

Mixing business with "pleasure" has never been arelationship with your colleague-then you should honor
recipe for a "happily ever after" and sex in theyour work and look for a different outlet for your
workplace seems to cause pain more often thanfantasies.
satisfaction. Every year, an average of 15,000 claimsDon't ever Start An Extramarital Affair in The
are filed for sexual harassment in the workplace; newsWorkplace. In "The Firm", young attorney Mitch is the
headlines about sexual scandals between prominentvictim of a corrupt law firm that throws its employees
bosses and work subordinates provoke publicinto extramarital affairs and then blackmails them to
contempt and outrage; more families and couples splitextort their loyalty. He has a company-induced affair
as a result of an extramarital affair that one of thethat costs him his marriage and his sanity. The movie
spouses began in the workplace; and morehas a happy ending only because Mitch fights very
psychotherapists treat patients experiencing thehard to recover the love of his wife.In real life,
aftermaths of a workplace romance gone sour. Suchextramarital affairs in the workplace never have a
aftermaths may range from feeling angry, confused,happily ever after. Besides the agony of being
humiliated and depressed to having been fired fromdiscovered at home, the parties involved live with the
the job, sometimes without even a letter ofconstant stress of being discovered at work. When
recommendation.More companies today are enforcingthis happens be prepared to cut your losses. And
work dating policies, providing training about workthose losses may include your reputation, your family,
romance, or choosing to show lenience towardyour job, the person you have the affair with, or all of
romantic involvement among employees, so long as itthe above.When You Date A Colleague, Set
doesn't threaten productivity and team effort. And yet,Post-Breakup Rules from The Beginning.In the classic
so many people are not clear about the rules offilm "The Apartment" C.C. Baxter climbs the career
romance at work. Still a taboo and a subject for tabloidladder by lending his apartment to his boss for his
gossip, sex and romance at work is considered aextramarital trysts. He's also falling in love with his
thorny issue most of us wish would go away.coworker, Fran. All seems to work fine, until he
Whether you are an employer or employee, here isdiscovers that Fran is also his boss's mistress. How will
how to prepare your personnel and yourself to dealthey all emerge from such perplexed dynamics and
with Cupid striking at the office:Know The Definition ofkeep their jobs?In real life, a romance with a coworker
Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment occurs whenalways has some impact on your work life. Once you
one employee makes continued, unwelcome sexualknow each other intimately, you become more
advances, requests for sexual favors, and othervulnerable to each other. This is why you must draw
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, toup a contract in which you specify how you will
another employee, against his or her wishes. Thispreserve your working relationship, should your
unwanted behavior affects an individual's employment,personal relationship not last. Sign it and honor it, in
unreasonably interferes with this person's workcase you break up. It's a smart thing to do. You don't
performance or creates an intimidating, hostile orwant a situation like Baxter and Fran's.
offensive work environment.The film "Disclosure",Stay Away from Office Sex Gossip. In the French
illustrates how sexual harassment is the abuse ofcomedy "The Closet", the main character
power that violates another person's moral, ethical andFrançois spreads false rumors at work that he is
emotional boundaries. The films shows how agay, hinting that he will sue the management if they fire
computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment byhim for sexual discrimination. As sex gossip spreads in
a former lover turned boss, whose purpose is tothe office it creates havoc in his coworkers' careers
incriminate him and destroy both his career and hisand personal lives with consequences that vary from
personal life.If you are being sexually harassed don'thilarious to severe.In real life, you should avoid office
stay silent hoping it will go away. This behavior usuallyhavoc by staying away from gossip about your
escalates if you don't stop the harasser with a firm,coworkers' sexual orientation and sex life. When a
proactive stand. Call the person on their behaviorcoworker confesses to you an affair with another
immediately, ask them to stop and warn them that youcoworker, politely decline to become their sounding
will report them if they continue. If it continues, reportboard. Protect your self and your job. You never know
the harassment. Your employer has the responsibilityhow office sex gossip may backfire or used against
to take each complaint seriously and investigate.Dealyou, whether you have generated it or not.When Cupid
Appropriately with Sexual Advances from Coworkers.Strikes at The Office, Keep Your Romance Private. In
A sexual advance may be a straightforwardthe movie "Kindergarten Cop", tough guy detective
expression of sexual attraction to a coworker, a bluntKimble goes into a school undercover as a
invitation for a physical relationship, or flirtatiouskindergarten teacher to investigate a case. He ends up
behavior that has gone overboard.In the movies, Andy,falling in love with Joyce, another school teacher who
the central character of "The 40-Year Old Virgin",is also the very subject of his investigation. But this is
neutralizes his female boss's advances by staying loyaltrue love and it changes Kimble's destiny. Leaving the
to his values. His boss understands. When he getspolice force, he returns to Joyce and her school as
promoted, it is not because of sexual favors butreal kindergarten teacher.In real life, if you have found
because of his job performance.Real life oftenyour soul mate in a certain coworker and you want
resembles the movies. If you stay loyal to your valuesyour budding romance to have a happily ever after,
and keep your work priorities straight, you too canyou must keep it private until it becomes a serious,
achieve success without losing your integrity.Honormutual commitment. Never transfer in the workplace
Your Work First, then Your Sex Fantasies. In the filmpersonal conflicts with the person you date. Always
"A Time to Kill" a young and handsome Mississippirespect each other as coworkers. Make your
lawyer is handling with admirable strength a toughromance public only when it's a solid relationship that
criminal case and a very attractive assistant. Evenyou know will last. Then, it's a time to celebrate.
though the sexual chemistry between them sizzles, heCongratulations! You have shown discretion and good
chooses to channel his passion into the case, which hejudgment!Knowing how to navigate successfully the
wins.If you ever feel irresistibly attracted to adark waters of romance in the workplace, should be
coworker, before you give into your fantasies do apart of your job training. Follow these guidelines as
reality check. Examine how it would affect your workrules of conduct to ensure your career and safeguard
if you consummated your sexual attraction. If youyour personal life, every time Cupid's arrow threaten to
realize that it would jeopardize your work-and yourpierce your bubble at the office.