14 ways your work spouse relationship could sabotage your career

August 6, 8:50 AMInfidelity ExaminerRuth Houston

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Many people consider work spouse relationships harmless. But they are not as benign as they seem. The biggest problem with work spouse relationships is that they can turn into workplace affairs, and wreak havoc on the personal and professional lives of the work husband or work wife involved.

Even if your work spouse relationship doesn’t progress to a workplace affair, it could negatively impact your career in one of the 14 ways below.

• Co-workers envious of the relationship between you and your work husband / work wife may attempt to sabotage your work.

• Your productivity or the productivity of your work spouse, or your workmates may suffer.

• You and your work husband / work wife could become the subject of office gossip.

• If your work spouse relationship results in preferential treatment with regard to work assignments, raises, promotions or company perks, your co-workers will resent you.

• A work spouse relationship with your boss may earn you a reputation as someone trying to sleep their way to the top.

• If you are a woman, and your work spouse relationship becomes a problem, you may be transferred to another department or asked to leave the company. Usually it’s the woman who’s penalized when these office spouse relationships become a problem.

• If you’re a man, and the relationship with your work wife goes south, you may find yourself facing sexual harassment charges.

• The situation could become awkward, if your work spouse relationship deteriorates, and the two of you still have to work together.

• If your work spouse relationship ends on a negative note, and your work husband / work wife is a vindictive person, he or she can sabotage your career in untold ways.

• A disgruntled work spouse in a position of power can negatively influence the kind of work assignments, raises, and advancement opportunities you receive.

• A work spouse relationship can cause your coworkers to have a lower perception of your job performance.

• If your work husband or work wife is your superior, your co-workers will attribute your job advancement to your work spouse relationship, no matter how hard you work, or how competent you may be.

• If other co-workers feel alienated, by your work spouse relationship, you and your work spouse could be accused of creating a hostile environment in the workplace.

• Even if your work spouse relationship is not a workplace affair, it can give the perception of being one.

Work Spouse Quiz

If you are a work wife or work husband, and you’re wondering if your work spouse relationship could lead to a workplace affair, request a free copy of the Work Spouse Quiz to see if your relationship with your office spouse is in the danger zone. E-mail InfidelityInfo@gmail.com  with “work spouse quiz-Xm” in the subject line.

*** © copyright 2009 Ruth Houston

Ruth Houston is a New York-based infidelity expert who is frequently called on by the media to comment on infidelity issues in the news. She is the author of Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs, the founder of InfidelityAdvice.com and blogs at Infidelity News and Views.


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Do Work Spouse Relationships Lead to Workplace Affairs?

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