Work life has taken over normal life, yet it's been stripped of humor, joy and pleasure.

One of the cardinal rules of office dating is, 'never date a direct report', meaning both those above you and below you.

If you are trying to keep your relationship a secret, plan holidays and birthdays carefully. People will notice if, coincidentally, you both come back from a vacation on the same day with the same tan.

Date sideways, never up or down. sideways is usually a more comfortable position for both players and one of the players can be heads up or heads down. in this position, any significant height difference of either player is minimilized.

In the early stages take time to talk about things because honesty is key. From the very beginning, be open and honest about your intentions and your feelings, including relevant updates as things evolve. Be sure to talk about how you plan to behave around co-workers.

When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery.