9
Cupid in the Cubicle
Dangers of the “Triple R”
Humans have two basic needs: love and work.
—Sigmund Freud
Dear Nan:
I’ll bet you’ve never been asked for this kind of advice before! I’ve just graduated from college and have a brand new job. Now, I want a brand new romance! The way I see it, dating a coworker will be better than any of my previous relationships. For starters, I’ll always know where he is and I can be certain he’ll have a job! But I am wondering if I can get fired for crimes of the heart. Any advice for the best way to find and conduct a romance at work (and still keep my job)?
—Sally in Las Vegas, NV
Believe it or not, this question is as old as Valentine’s Day. The following response to Sally is offered with my tongue firmly in my cheek!
Dear Sally:
You might possibly be looking for love in all the wrong places, but don’t take my word for it. I asked I. M. Kidding, an Employee Relationship Custodian of an Unfortunate 500 company, for her advice about how to have a workplace romance. Here are her suggestions:
1. Selection of your mate: You can either . . .
a. Pick someone unlikely. The more unbelievable the pairing, the more slack you’ll have. So aim low. Pick a loser; or
b. Aim high! Pick someone who can help you get promoted—and then make darn sure he delivers.
2. Forget about being discreet. No one pulls this off. Lovebirds always think they are fooling everyone when, in actuality, they are the last ones to know that everybody knows. So be adult and up ...
