Considering that most people spend more of their time at work than anyplace else, it is inevitable that romantic relationships will develop in the office. Day in and day out, we work with attractive, interesting people who share common interests and goals. Certainly, mutual attraction is natural, and these relationships can, and often do, work out. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of all working adults have been involved with a co-worker at some point, and that nearly 25 percent of these relationships are successful.

But there’s a down side to all of this. Sometimes relationships don’t work out, and the situation can get very uncomfortable for everyone concerned. Here are some questions to think about when you feel yourself beginning to fall for a coworker.

What is My Company’s Fraternization Policy?

Before you even think about going out with a coworker, first check your company’s employee manual to find out whether or not this is against company policy. If there is no written policy, speak with someone in Human Resources. Many companies have written in specific clauses dealing with interpersonal relationships, and you may find that this behavior is discouraged or downright forbidden. If fraternization is against company policy, it is reckless to consider a relationship with someone at work.

Is the Person I am Attracted to in my "Chain of Command?"

In some cases, relationships between people who are in the same "chain of command" are discouraged. In this situation, it is possible that, given a promotion, one of the parties might end up as the other’s direct supervisor. This is tricky in that these are probably the people with whom you work the most closely, and to whom you would most likely be the closest. But, if there is any chance that you may end up supervising this person, or vice versa, it is wise to not let anything develop other than friendship.

No doubt about it, dating your boss (or a subordinate) is a bad idea. Once word leaks of the relationship (and no matter how coy you think you are, it is bound to come out eventually) there will be ramifications and credibility questions. People in the workplace can be jealous and petty, and no matter how good a job you are doing, if your boss is also your boyfriend, any promotions or raises that you receive are going to be cause for gossip and resentment.

People in supervisory roles need to be fair and objective when dealing with subordinates. If there is a romantic involvement, certainly, there may be charges of favoritism and both parties will suffer in the long run. It just isn’t good business sense to get involved with someone for whom you work or who works for you.