Office Romances Can Destroy Marriages
Office romances are more common than people think. Men and women who are spending up to eight hours a day with each other begin to form a relationship a work relationship, that is. Not every work relationship turns into a romantic one. People in the workplace get to know one another through working long hours together, team projects, work interactions and sometimes travel. This unavoidable contact on a Monday-through-Friday basis can lead to a close friendship.
Unfortunately, co-workers often can relate better to one another than they can to their spouse. At home, they may have to hear about the kids, bills and household chores not being completed. Their co-worker may offer to listen and, most of the time, can relate or empathize with them about the stress at home or problems with their partner.
These friendships can lead to strong emotional attachments. But over time such a friendship can turn into more until sexual relations enter the mix. Most of the time they truly do not realize how emotionally involved they have become with the other person. However, this is absolutely no excuse for their behavior.
Some signs of an office romance to look for in your partner:
Late-night meetings. If all of a sudden your partner has to work late all the time, this could be bad news, especially if they have never had to work late before.
Clothes that smell of perfume or cologne or have unexplained stains.
Leaving the room to take phone calls at an unreasonable time in the evening, or unexplained calls and then hang-ups.
Sudden interest in exercise. Your partner begins to exercise excessively when exercise has not been a part of their daily routine.
Using the computer with a demand for privacy or being pre-occupied with online chatting.
Loss of interest in sex. You and your partner have had an active sex life and then all of a sudden it dwindles or becomes non-existent.
Tension in your marriage or relationship. You and your partner are having more arguments you feel he/she is instigating in an attempt to create turmoil.
If you do believe your partner is having an affair, it is important to keep notes on what you have found or have seen. When you feel it is the right time, confronting your partner is the next step. Write down the questions you want to ask and then sit down with him/her in a quiet place with no distractions. Keep in mind your partners first line of defense will be to deny. But do not let this discourage you. Continue to ask questions, and sooner or later the truth will reveal itself.
