Will you risk flirting at workplace?

“Studies show that your coworkers are generally positive about it if they perceive that you’re falling in love and genuinely care about each other. It’s when your coworkers sense that something else is in play — that can be disruptive,” says the associate professor of psychology at the University of New Haven.

Then there is also the question of power dynamics that come into play when dating someone above or below your rank. Baker says that any romantic relationship between a boss and a subordinate generates a lot of negative feelings among others, most of which is directed at the person who is “lower on the totem pole”. So, when it boils down to the question — should we date our bosses, Baker is crystal clear — “In almost all cases, no, you should not date your boss.”

The professor cites another study to assert her views. “There was a study published last year that suggested dating a superior can even have a negative impact on your career. The researchers asked third-party evaluators online to imagine that they worked at a law firm. They asked them to make recommendations on which employee should get picked for a special training programme and which should get promoted to partner,” says Baker.

“They looked at credentials for imaginary employees, and when it was stated that an employee had been dating or was in a relationship with a superior, the evaluators were less likely to pick that person for the training programme or the promotion, even if they had the exact same credentials as someone who wasn’t dating their boss. The evaluators were also quick to dismiss their accomplishments,” she adds.

Besides this, Baker also answers other related questions like “Why are coworkers often attracted to each other?” and “Do I need a policy on workplace relationships?” and it takes her less than six minutes to respond to seven such queries. So, if you’re concerned about blossoming relationships or even annoyed with colleagues flirting, this 5.42 minutes’ video may just be worth your time.