It has been estimated that a quarter of long-term couples meet at the workplace and a third of us make most of our friends through work. Not surprising really when you take into account just how much time we spend there. There are often plenty of opportunities to chat and flirt: around the coffee machine, water cooler, photocopier or in the kitchen. You could also organise lunch out or drinks after work for a group of you and invite the guy or girl you've had your eye to join you.
A quick way of checking out someone's romantic status is to ask what they did over the weekend; if their answers are full of "We" then they're probably attached. Another way is to make discreet enquiries with another colleague; however, you should only do this if you're sure that they're not the type who'll immediately dash over to the object of your desire shouting "Guess who fancies you?!!"
However, finding love at work can lead to many problems, which we look at in more detail in our section on Relationships. For example, many companies have strict 'no-dating' policies, which make it a rule that colleagues cannot form romantic relationships. Even if you are allowed to date, you should take some time to consider what the consequences would be for you, your date and your work colleagues if the relationship turned sour.
