**The possibility for attraction always exists among co-workers, and the temptation to take a working relationship further may seem particularly strong if two people, who spend a great deal of time together already, also feel that they have limited opportunities to meet other people outside of work. While it may seem harmless, workplace romance may result in disastrous consequences .
Now its a commonplace thing in the West …however it seems to have become pretty rampant in our society as well now …After having worked here , things I saw and heard , at times I felt like stuff going on was like straight out of an episode of Grey’s Anatomy !!!
So Workplace Romance or Flirting …in Our Desi Society …What are the Consequences ?
**
Workplace romances and affairs abound in the west and it has everything to do with proximity and opportunity.
Don’t know if many people have heard of it, but it’s pretty common - “work wife” or “work husband”. It’s a platonic (or if not platonic, at least not a physical relationship) that people of the opposite gender have where two people who spend a lot of time together sort of pair off and get known as a “pair” at work. Again, it’s a recipe for disaster
I disgree with both of you. Workplace romance is a big liability for employers as it could easily turn into a sexual harrasment lawsuit and also if things go south for the romantic couple, employers have to figure out how to maintain a working relationship between the ex-lovebirds. Employers do not encourage it at all and even employees for that matter are also very careful not to involve romantically with a colleague.
**Sehrysh....I've seen a sort of similar thing happening here.....Its of course not openly claimed but more of an OPEN SECRET !
Like In the OR.......everytime I'd sit down to coffee with colleagues or nurses , I'd hear of some such rumour and I had to keep reminding myself this is PAKISTAN !!! Residents hitting on Consultants or Vice versa and at times it felt like almost EVERYONE was in some sort of "relationship" with a colleague........and I witnessed first hand some of the consequences.....with one Resident being transferred out of the programme because of a workplace flirtation with the Consultant and another being terminated as working together after things turn sour becomes impossible.
TLK.....I don't think in desi society right now that sexual harrassment lawsuits are common ...since again its something that would reflect on the reputation of the people involved and in our sort of society these things are hushed up to avoid "badnaami" of the concerned parties.
Have you heard of sexual harrassment suits in Pakistan ?**
The mentality in Pakistan is different , there is more rumor than romance. If someone sees a male and female talking in some friendly manner it is termed as romance by others .
Being friendly by opposite sexes is taken as a sign of wish to get involved romantically often even by the parties involved.
So there you go , less of real romance more of mirch , masala is rampant at workplaces.
Sheyn, affairs/relationships/flirtation are lot more in Pakistani hospitals than in west. Most of the peopel have little interest in work, since it pays little. There interest is only in gossip and flirtation. There is hardly any professionalism.
Sheyn, affairs/relationships/flirtation are lot more in Pakistani hospitals than in west. Most of the peopel have little interest in work, since it pays little. There interest is only in gossip and flirtation. There is hardly any professionalism.
I'll have to agree with that .......from what I saw it felt more like a matrimonial house than anything else....:D
But what surprised me is that its considered quite normal.......more of a given !***
West or Pakistan , I worked in both kinda offices and its just same . The only difference is that in west we have laws like sexual harassment and here in Pakistan no one cares . In west no one cares if you have a side-boy/girl-friend , and in Pakistan you have to stick to phone calls or eventually getting married
But over all I think its not a good idea , if you really wana grow in your organization and concentrate on your work .
As a side note , you won’t drag yourself to office on Monday morning
On the other hand, Desis in the west associate friendly people with wanting to be in a relationship quite often. I believe in being comfortably friendly at work-mainly because it makes the work much more enjoyable and it's always a desi person who'd ask the "do you like him" or "does he like you" question. Maybe it's not romance or whatever, it could be that they're just comfortable with each other and happen to be of opposite sex?!
if i were a secret agent, and my partner was all of six feet and hot, then it'd be really hard for us to not do anything about our feelings. but since i am a fat balding uncle working alongside women that look like sacks of potatoes, i think my strength of character will shine thru and save the day. yay me!
if i were a secret agent, and my partner was all of six feet and hot, then it'd be really hard for us to not do anything about our feelings. but since i am a fat balding uncle working alongside women that look like sacks of potatoes, i think my strength of character will shine thru and save the day. yay me!
I'd sumwut agree with TLK that employers try to discourage their the work romance among employees for the possible sexual harassment cases and at my workplace, they forced us to go through courses about hazards of sexual harrassment and wutever.
But guess wut, recently we hv got new hookups and even a couple of them turned into marriage, thanks to long running projects and late night workshifts..
My point is, no matter how much employer beats the drum and scare workers, but this romance thingy is not going anywhere. It just happens and will keep on going, whether its Jim & Pam of "The office" or some practical life drama. And whether its east or west, the attaction of opposite gender alwaz works..
It was popular game in last century; for instace they were like from Russia with love, the spy who shagged me etc. Now it is changed to more attuned collaboration like Casino Royale.
I like and prctice more composed hugging and relaxed kiss once in a while in office. It does not constitute romance, we are just friends. Meeting deadline is more important.
