Office romance survival guide

It’s looking good

You’ve passed the initial hurdles – office troublemaker predicting doom, office gossip telling you about your new love’s last three relationships – and you reckon you’re in this for the long run. You can still work together as long as you Stay Professional, that is, get your jobs done as well or better than before, don’t make eyes at each other or have sex across your desk (ever) and remain two separate people at work.

Sally says, ‘We once almost got caught kissing in the stationery room. After that we agreed – never in the office – and that made things easier.’

It didn’t work out

You dumped him and can’t stand the sight of him now. Or perhaps he dumped you and you’re hurting like hell. And you have to go on seeing him at work. At this stage avoid drama and Resist Revenge. This includes everything from telling everyone what a hopeless lover he was to criticising his work. Doing this will only make you look bad.

Stick pins into his image at home if you want to, but at work behave beautifully. Smile, be polite, avoid talking about it to anyone and show the world – including him – that you’re over it and you’ve moved on.

Margaret regrets, ‘I told everyone what a pig he was, but later I wished I hadn’t because I damaged his reputation and, actually, he hadn’t behaved badly at all; he just didn’t want to go on seeing me.’

If things don't work out, transform your break-up into a bonus.