17 July 2025
By Joseph Kelly, Kelly Workplace Lawyers
Is It OK To Date A Coworker?
We spend a lot of time at work, so it’s not unusual that we might meet someone who we’d like to spend more and more time with.
There are a lot of good reasons to date a co-worker:
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You get to see a lot more of each other;
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You can travel to work together; and
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You can gossip about co-workers.
However, there are some pretty big pitfalls:
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Your other colleagues might look at you differently;
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It will be difficult for you to be (and appear to be) impartial when making decisions about your new squeeze;
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If your new flame is a more junior or senior employee, the power imbalance creates a risk that the relationship isn’t completely consensual; and
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It may be a breach of your company’s policy about workplace relationships.
It’s also worth noting that even if your workplace doesn’t have a strict “no dating” rule, there are usually policies covering conflict of interest, confidentiality, and professional behaviour. Dating a colleague can create perceptions of favouritism or special treatment, even if none exists, which can quickly undermine team morale. And if the relationship ends badly, the tension doesn’t just stay at home—it comes right back into the office. Awkward meetings, frosty silence at the coffee machine, and whispered side chats from co-workers can make work life uncomfortable very quickly.
So, what should you do?
The single most important thing to do is: tell the workplace. Be honest. This allows your employer to assess the risk and decide whether you and your sweetheart can keep working together, and what processes (if any) should be put in place to keep everything fair and professional. Some employers might move one person to a different team, or set clear expectations about decision-making and reporting lines.
You should tell your employer as soon as possible. If you don’t, and the first your boss hears of your new love life is on a Jumbotron, then you may lose your privacy. And remember—if the news is going to get out anyway, it’s better that it comes from you rather than the office rumour mill.
So while some may think their private life is their private business, if it impacts your work life then you need to disclose it – and it’s probably better to do it in HR’s office than at a Cold Play concert.
If you would like to discuss further, please book an appointment with one of our workplace specialists through our booking tab.