The Dos and Don'ts of office romance
Eunice Victoria, a Career Coach.
In today’s professional world, romantic relationships at the workplace are becoming more common. But according to Eunice Victoria, a career coach, secrecy around such relationships can be more damaging than people realize.
Victoria emphasizes that while falling in love with a colleague isn’t wrong, hiding the relationship can signal deeper ethical issues.
She points out that in most companies, relationships between colleagues are allowed as long as they are declared and align with company policy. Some organizations, allow couples to work together, but under strict guidelines.
She adds that secret relationships often result in questions around favouritism, conflict of interest, and professional misconduct, especially when one partner holds a position of influence.
As Victoria explains, hidden office romances can also hurt team morale. If one employee appears to be favoured in project assignments, financial approvals, or time-off requests, others may feel demotivated or undervalued.
“It kills meritocracy. People begin to think they need to manipulate situations or change their behaviour to receive similar treatment,” she says.
Victoria warns that such scenarios not only damage trust within teams but also threaten the organization’s core values and vision.
For those already in secret relationships, Victoria advises taking immediate steps to address the situation.
“If you cannot come clean to HR, it’s best to leave. If you’re already in it, speak to relevant people and consider requesting a transfer or role adjustment,” she says.
In cases where the relationship isn’t negatively affecting work and is within policy, she encourages couples to maintain professionalism and ensure there’s transparency and accountability.
Victoria reminds those in leadership or HR roles to carry the responsibility of upholding ethical standards and protecting the organization’s brand.
“If you don’t want to be held to that level of accountability, don’t take the job,” she states.
Ultimately, while workplace relationships are not wrong in themselves, secrecy breeds mistrust, lowers productivity, and risks damaging both careers and companies.
Transparency, alignment with company policy, and ethical behaviour remain key.