(Note: This is part two of the point/counter-point of dating co-workers. In part one I recalled the painful situations I have seen and experienced over the years. Taking the side of dating co-workers is our resident Spanish language adviser and PhD candidate Senor Esparza. He takes the position that it is in fact beneficial to date co-workers. Obviously there is a middle ground we would both advocate. No amount of logic or reason is going to prevent or cause anyone to enter into a workplace relationship. This series if for entertainment value only. If you are not reading it with a smile, you might be missing the joke.)
Soundtrack inserted by yours truly.
I will not attempt to refute the points that our favorite restaurant blogger has made. Much of the rationale behind his screed warning people off of dating co-workers is grounded both his experience and the experience of many others. This being said, I am going to frame the issue a little bit differently. I would argue that not only is dating a co-worker natural consequence explainable by proximity empiricism, but in many cases can be preferable to dating people that you have not gotten to know through the course of working with them.
On the downside, you work a double with them tomorrow
It is that time of year. Love or at least heavy lust is in the air. That means just one thing in the restaurant business. It is too hot to sit on the patio. Well that and co-workers are starting the annual mating ritual. At the most recent count, there are six confirmed couples at my restaurant. I was discussing this with some co-workers when someone said, “hey, you should write a blog about that.” I had pondered it before, but never thought there was much to cover. My opinion is simple and based on a great deal of experience. Dating co-workers is a horrible idea. My friend disagreed and offered to write the counter-point. So today we kick off a two part series on dating co-workers.
I am a child of the 80s and was raised on John Hughes movies. The hopeless romantic streak runs strong in me. I have been in this business for 15 years and of course I have dated co-workers. I have seen 15 years worth of work couples and even been in a few of their weddings. I have seen co-workers have babies. I have seen co-workers divorce. My opinion is still clear though, don’t date your co-workers.
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