Spending hours a day with colleagues means workplace romances are perhaps inevitable - but more often than not, they can end in tension, tears and awkward office encounters.
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they → spend → tension
We've seen it play out in both the celebrity and corporate worlds, such as the marriage, and later divorce, between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who met on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith.
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who → see → Smith
Then there's the infamous 2025 'kiss cam' incident that ultimately saw Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resign after he was caught cosying up to the company's CPO, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert.
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he → be → concert
But while plenty of workplace romances have ended badly, others have gone the distance, including one of Hollywood's most enduring couples, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who started dating after featuring in the 1984 romance Swing Shift.
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who → end → romance
News broke on Sunday of another high-profile romance, after it emerged that BBC Match of the Day co-hosts Kelly Cates, 51, and Mark Chapman, 52, have reportedly grown close.
The pair have been part of the BBC show's presenting line-up alongside Gabby Logan since the start of last season, following Gary Lineker's departure.
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pair → break → departure
Cates, who recently divorced, is said to have felt 'attractive' again while dating her co-star.
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who → divorce → star
Chapman's former partner reportedly accused him of beginning a relationship with Cates while they were still together.
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they → accuse → Cates
However, he insists there was no overlap between the relationships and that he had remained faithful.
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he → insist → relationships
But the accusations around the latest romance is a reminder that even the most promising office relationships can come with their own minefields.
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relationships → come → minefields
So, what are the unspoken rules for dating a colleague - without risking your relationship or your job?
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rules → date → relationship
Below, a set of experts share their top tips with The Daily Mail...
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set → share → Mail
News broke on Sunday of another high-profile romance, after it emerged that BBC Match of the Day co-hosts Kelly Cates, 51, and Mark Chapman (pictured next to one another), 52, have reportedly started dating
DO: Know your company's policy
Workplace romances are common, but it's crucial you understand your employer’s rules and pay attention to reporting a relationship before things get serious.
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things → break → relationship
Phil Macleod, psychologist and founder of Thought Reader, said: 'Lots of people meet their partners at work, it's a natural thing, but if you find yourself in that situation, know the company policy.'
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you → say → policy
'Failing to understand the company policy can get your relationship and role in a stressful situation before it's even formed.
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it → fail → situation
You should pay particular attention to the power dynamics if either of you asset power over the other in a business and reporting structure this should be understood and disclosed.
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this → pay → structure
'
DON’T: Overshare with colleagues
When it comes to your office romance, less is more, according to Phil.
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less → don’t → Phil
He said: 'Creating boundaries at the outset is key, and the first is to ensure that you protect your relationship at work.
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you → say → work
'Being secretive will just draw attention to you if it comes out, whilst oversharing is also an issue as it can cause conflict with colleagues and your new partner.
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it → draw → colleagues
Sometimes it's a direct and obvious issue, other times it manifests as just embarrassing or seemingly un-professional.
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it → manifest → ?
'So less is more, be protective about your relationship and the things you have done in and out of work together.'
DO: Keep the relationship professional at work
However exciting a new relationship is, it's important to try not to let it take over the working day.
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it → do → day
Cheryl Kennedy MacDonald, psychotherapist and founder of Female Focused Therapy, added: 'It sounds terribly unromantic, but have the conversation.
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It → add → conversation
Are you keeping it private?
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you → keep → it
Will you arrive together?
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you → arrive → ?
How will you handle disagreements?
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you → handle → disagreements
'Agreeing boundaries early stops the relationship spilling into every corner of your working life.'
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relationship → agree → life
Phil added: 'Try not to cross the line by acting like lovebirds at work.
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Phil → add → work
Keep things professional and others will respect you more for it.
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others → keep → it
You can still enjoy being together, but there is a time and a place for showing affection.
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You → enjoy → affection
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DON'T: Have your rows at work
Both experts stress to leave arguments at home rather than bringing them into the office.
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experts → have → office
Ignoring each other, sending angry messages or involving colleagues will only make things worse - and leave everyone feeling caught in the middle.
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things → ignore → middle
Cheryl warned: 'No icy silences, passive-aggressive emails or dramatic exits from meetings.
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Cheryl → warn → meetings
'If you argued at home, deal with it at home.
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you → argue → home
Your colleagues should not have to work around the emotional weather of your relationship.
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colleagues → have → relationship
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DO: Keep something that is just yours
According to Cheryl, retaining your individuality and having your own space is also key to surviving an office relationship.
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retaining → keep → relationship
She said: 'Don’t become one of those couples who suddenly operates as a single workplace unit.
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who → say → unit
You want colleagues to continue seeing you as you, not simply as somebody’s boyfriend or girlfriend.'
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colleagues → want → boyfriend
Phil added: 'You could be spending all of your time together and you don’t want to bring work home with you - that is not a healthy balance.
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that → add → you
According to Cheryl, resentment can build 'very quickly' between a couple if a power imbalance surfaces.
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imbalance → accord → couple
She said: 'Even if nothing inappropriate is happening, perception matters.
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perception → say → ?
If one partner is constantly getting the best shifts, projects or opportunities, resentment can build very quickly.
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resentment → get → shifts
…and 25 more, not listed.
The Aporia
