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Online dating in the workplace
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Do you know your company's policy on dating in the work place? More than likely, even if you don't know the specifics you're sure that it either says one of the following:
A. Interoffice dating is strictly forbidden
B. Interoffice dating is strictly forbidden between management and their immediate subordinates
C. If you are found to be engaging in interoffice dating, irrespective of your position, both parties will be expected to sign a contract which will indemnify said company from any wrong doing (i.e. sexual harassment in the work place, etc.)
That's all fine and dandy, but what about the use of technology in the workplace for the express purpose of dating? Do you know if it's allowed? Well whether it is or isn't here are a few things to keep in mind when you decide to bring your personal life (and it's technological apparatus) into the workplace.
1. Be mindful of your conversations on the company's equipment. Your flirty chat messages might seem harmless, but they can get you into hot water if your company is the type that logs and saves all activity on each office computer. What might seem like no big deal can turn into a fire storm (and cause for termination) if your company has a morality clause.
2. The same applies for websites you visit. Some companies block certain websites like social networks, porn sites and dating websites. However, some companies trust their employees enough to police themselves. If the latter is your firm, be mindful of the sites you visit, on company time - on company equipment. Don't visit unknown pages where pictures and textual content might be considered risque. The last thing you want at your year end review is to be stonewalled from a raise or promotion because of a pile of mounting "evidence" that demonstrates your time wasting abilities.
3. Watch out for what you make available on your social pages! Even though your social page is your own, and isn't under the domain of a company, it can still get you into hot water. The fact is (as mentioned before) many companies have morality clauses and even if they don't a suspect picture or status update can really derail your career. Don't let your personal life ruin your professional life. Need more proof, check out this cautionary tale!
4. Be a cautious flirter. It might seem counterintuitive, but make sure the person you're flirting with isn't the type to kiss and tell. If you work in a profession where discretion is paramount, you have no business dating a kiss and tell blogger type who makes even the most mundane of their daily tasks something of interest for their readers. Granted, this might be an extreme example, but take this point to heart. Before you start sending steamy messages willy nilly with everyone on Match, Lavalife or Facebook, make sure that the receiver knows that you're convo is just for the two of you, not everyone with access to the Internet.
5. Don't click send on emails until you check the To and CC boxes! In this day and age, people should really know better, but before you click send on a personal email that might even be slightly considered questionable, please make sure that you aren't:
-Sending the message using your work account
-Sending the message to an entire group rather than the one person you intended to read it.
These little golden nuggets of information might seem rudimentary, but you would be amazed by the number of people who have been fired from their positions or stopped cold in their career aspirations because they didn't use a tad bit of common sense when it came to using technology in the workplace to find a date.
Still need more tips on how to blend technology and dating? Check out our archives!
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