There are certain taboos in the workplace and one of them is office romance.
When it comes to office romance, both parties are interested and are
aware of the risks involved. But in the case where your boss is overtly
flirting with you, that's just a big NO.
A little light office flirtation can be exciting, but when your boss doesn't get the memo that this is wrong, it could be a really bad day at work. It is also annoying, rude, awkward and counterproductive -- not to mention potentially illegal. You most likely will want to avoid your boss, which seems impossible as you'll have to interact with the individual every day.
Flirting involves verbal or written communication as well as body language by one person to another, either to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with the other person or if done playfully, for amusement.
If your boss is in interested in you, it often starts with a friendly gesture, compliment, a pat on the back, a jokey remark and all of that. Although not all men/women will act like this, but you have to be careful and try to defuse the situation before it gets any worse. Flirtation that initially seemed innocent can quickly escalate to harassment levels, so it's important to remedy the situation before it gets out of hand.
You can simply ignore the advances, but not all will get that they are being ignored and will probably still continue with their advances. There are other ways you can regain your sanity and a reasonable level of comfort at work.
1. Be direct
You can tell your boss directly that you are very uncomfortable with his advances. If you don't say anything the advances are likely to continue, so it's advisable you tell him how you feel. You can simply tell him/her that you are interested in them professionally and not romantically. This may seem hard, but if you keep silent it could be seen as a sign of encouragement.
2. Mention a partner
One other way you can defuse the situation is by mentioning your partner. Even if you are not in a relationship, you can still talk about a man or woman in your life. You should drop hints that you are in a relationship.
3. Reduce flirtation opportunities
Simply put, reduce your alone time with your boss. This can be tricky as you will have meetings together and the rest. But if you can control it, reduce the time you spend alone with your boss.
4. Be tactful
If the flirting still continues, you should express your disapproval but be tactful while doing it. Remember that you'll still be working for this person so be careful. Expres your discomfort in a way that doesn't condemn him/her. You can say something like I make it a rule never to mix business with pleasure. I know you’re only joking, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable when you mess about.
5. Don't dress inappropriately
The way you dress can send the wrong message. You should always come to work in conservative work apparel. this is a good for career advancement. Don't wear a particular dress or colour just because your boss likes it, this can send the wrong message.
6. Look into the company's s3xual harassment policy
If the flriting still continues after all this, it's advisable you look into the company's s3xual harassment policy and also keep a written record including the date, time, location, what was said and if there were witnesses. You should also talk to someone about it, it could be the Human Resources manager or a lawyer.
Don't believe your success in your workplace is due to your boss's attraction to you. You are there on your merits and you should never think that way. Consider all these points if you feel uncomfortable with the flirtateous advances from your boss.
A little light office flirtation can be exciting, but when your boss doesn't get the memo that this is wrong, it could be a really bad day at work. It is also annoying, rude, awkward and counterproductive -- not to mention potentially illegal. You most likely will want to avoid your boss, which seems impossible as you'll have to interact with the individual every day.
Flirting involves verbal or written communication as well as body language by one person to another, either to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with the other person or if done playfully, for amusement.
If your boss is in interested in you, it often starts with a friendly gesture, compliment, a pat on the back, a jokey remark and all of that. Although not all men/women will act like this, but you have to be careful and try to defuse the situation before it gets any worse. Flirtation that initially seemed innocent can quickly escalate to harassment levels, so it's important to remedy the situation before it gets out of hand.
You can simply ignore the advances, but not all will get that they are being ignored and will probably still continue with their advances. There are other ways you can regain your sanity and a reasonable level of comfort at work.
1. Be direct
You can tell your boss directly that you are very uncomfortable with his advances. If you don't say anything the advances are likely to continue, so it's advisable you tell him how you feel. You can simply tell him/her that you are interested in them professionally and not romantically. This may seem hard, but if you keep silent it could be seen as a sign of encouragement.
2. Mention a partner
One other way you can defuse the situation is by mentioning your partner. Even if you are not in a relationship, you can still talk about a man or woman in your life. You should drop hints that you are in a relationship.
3. Reduce flirtation opportunities
Simply put, reduce your alone time with your boss. This can be tricky as you will have meetings together and the rest. But if you can control it, reduce the time you spend alone with your boss.
4. Be tactful
If the flirting still continues, you should express your disapproval but be tactful while doing it. Remember that you'll still be working for this person so be careful. Expres your discomfort in a way that doesn't condemn him/her. You can say something like I make it a rule never to mix business with pleasure. I know you’re only joking, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable when you mess about.
5. Don't dress inappropriately
The way you dress can send the wrong message. You should always come to work in conservative work apparel. this is a good for career advancement. Don't wear a particular dress or colour just because your boss likes it, this can send the wrong message.
6. Look into the company's s3xual harassment policy
If the flriting still continues after all this, it's advisable you look into the company's s3xual harassment policy and also keep a written record including the date, time, location, what was said and if there were witnesses. You should also talk to someone about it, it could be the Human Resources manager or a lawyer.
Don't believe your success in your workplace is due to your boss's attraction to you. You are there on your merits and you should never think that way. Consider all these points if you feel uncomfortable with the flirtateous advances from your boss.
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