Should You Get a Job Under Someone You’re Dating?

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to have the upper hand over other candidates when applying for a job; especially if the interviewer is a friend or family member of yours, you might even be dating them. But is getting a job working under someone you’re dating appropriate in the workplace?

Relationships in the workplace happen more commonly than suspected, even with people you least suspect, such as managers or the company director. Usually, the personal relationship develops whilst your professional relationship develops, but workplace relationships are renowned for being tricky to navigate and are sometimes better to be avoided at all.  

So, dating someone and applying to work under them might be a cause for concern, especially in the eyes of the business and their employees. It might even cause contract disputes for both parties if the rules aren’t followed correctly. But even without these concerns, there is still a chance that it might negatively impact your relationship, particularly if they treat you differently when at work.

A workplace relationship usually goes in four different ways:

1.The relationship doesn’t work out, and it affects your professional relationships, thus affecting your job

2.The relationship doesn’t work out, but it doesn’t affect your job or professional relationship

3.The relationship works out but negatively influences your job

4.The relationship works out and doesn’t affect your job

Statistics suggest that 58% of employees have taken part in a workplace relationship, so we’ve taken the time to make a pro and con list. Let’s take a closer look at whether being employed under someone you’re dating is a wise idea…

What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Job Under Someone You’re Dating?

Treated Differently

You might be able to get more business opportunities than if you weren’t dating the person above you. They might put you forward for a promotion or reward because of your relationship with them or because they can see your potential more closely due to knowing you on a personal level.

Despite us listing this as potentially being a benefit, we have also listed this as a drawback down below, where we further explain our reasoning.  

Spend More Time With Them

A certain benefit that you’ll be able to have is the ability to spend more time with the person you’re dating. You’re going to see them at work every day as well as the time you spend outside together. It might help to develop your relationship quicker but also bring you close together as a couple.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Getting A Job Under Someone You’re Dating?

No Separate Lives

Your personal and work relationship won’t be separate. Couples that work in different jobs from each other have the ability to separate their lives. They get the opportunity to miss their significant other because they’ve been apart all day. They can discuss their day because the other person wasn’t there and isn’t aware of what happened. But if you work together, you can’t do this.

Contract Disputes

Some businesses aren’t keen on their employees having romantic relationships together as they don’t believe it’s appropriate or professional in the workplace. An example of this is the big fast-food chain McDonald’s, which in 2019 fired its chief executive due to his relationship with another employee.

If you don’t follow or aren’t aware of the rules stated in your contract and you break them, both of you could be liable to contract disputes. This could potentially leave you vulnerable to having both of your contracts terminated. Not only can it affect your future employment opportunities, but it could also be a costly process for both of you especially if you need to hire a solicitor.

Unable To Say How You Feel

Most employees have a mumble and grumble about their bosses every so often, especially if something has happened that they don’t agree with. But if your boss is your significant other, you might feel like you can’t express your unhappiness about something, instead feeling obliged to accept it and move on, even if it’s not right or you’re unhappy with it.

If they weren’t your partner, you might be able to talk to them in a professional way. Or if it can’t be resolved with them, talk to someone higher. You might feel like you can’t do this if you’re dating, particularly if you’re worried that it would affect their job.

Difficult To Leave Relationship Problems At Home

If you have problems with your significant other, it is likely that those problems will follow you to work. This could lead to you discussing them whilst at work, which wouldn’t be considered professional, especially if it is in front of other colleagues or discussed with other colleagues.

Treated Differently  

Although we listed this as a benefit, it could also be considered as a drawback. This is because being treated differently in the workplace can be interpreted in two different ways:

1.You get treated well, but this might only make your co-workers resent you because they could feel that it is due to favouritism rather than your actual professional skills.

2.You won’t get treated fairly. Your significant other might feel that they can’t promote you or reward you because of what people might presume if they do.

Think First Before Jumping Into A Job Under Someone You’re Dating

The final decision is ultimately down to you. Dating a boss has worked out for some people, and it might work for you too. But after weighing up the pros and cons, we personally think it might be wiser to steer clear of working under someone you’re dating. Find a different role in another company and make your own mark on that business, away from your significant other. It might help you to succeed better and avoid a potential contract dispute.

Sometimes it’s better to keep your personal and work lives separate rather than joining the two together.

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