Asking your colleague out on a date in these times can be a tricky situation – you can do it right, and you can as easily do it wrong. While HR and various office policies try to dissuade people from getting close to their co-workers, the truth is, these feelings do take place, and people do feel like asking their colleagues out on a date.
The #MeToo and other workplace harassment stories have no doubt made it a little difficult, where you have to be really careful about who you ask and how you ask.
Check On The Following Before Asking Out A Colleague, To Make Sure It Doesn’t Backfire
Go through your company’s dating policies. Knowing how your company looks at office dating will give you an idea of whether this is worth the risk. Some companies have very strict rules on office dating, especially in different hierarchies.
It’s always best to interact with the person first and then ask them out -nothing like straightway asking out on a date and then regretting it. If the person knows you already, he or she may be more open to the idea.
A simple coffee or lunch idea can work, instead of directly suggesting a date.
Dharm Sanghavi, a Credit Manager at Landingcart Finance Ltd. says that if done right, you can definitely ask your colleague out on a date, without looking like a despo. “There are certain ways to ask a colleague out without looking like you’re desperate. It’s always good to first have some real contact with this person at work, even if it’s just a regular hello. This will make it easier for them to connect with you. You can send a message asking if they’d like to go out if they are free. If they don’t seem comfortable, you can have other friends too in a group. If you want to do it in an indirect way, maybe drop a card with the venue and timings and mention you’d love to take them out on a date.”
Whether you get rejected or you do go out, make sure to maintain professionalism at work, and not let your personal relationship affect it, so that you’re not at risk of losing your job.
