How to Prevent Office Infidelity

Office romance happens. Fine, you say, for the singletons. But definitely not good for the married ones. This needs no further explanation, unless you're a complete ditz who doesn't know the meaning of and can't spell B-R-O-K-E-N H-O-M-E.

While it's normal even for married people to find certain officemates attractive, feeding on that fantasy and working on to make that fantasy a reality spell disaster to their marriage. It could get worse when the married party falls in love with the other, intensifying the already complicated affair.
And what about those who unexpectedly find an old flame in the workplace? Take Erica, a 30-year-old manager in a call center, married with a young child, who was shocked when her ex-boyfriend Nathan was hired by the company to train the new batch of agents. She admits to having difficulty resisting Nathan's offer to have coffee at a nearby Starbucks 'Just for old times' sake."
"Even if it's just for coffee, I don’t give in. It doesn't feel right. And besides," she adds in a low voice.
"I don't trust myself. It's better for my sake to avoid him and keep myself from exploring what I call the 'what if area."
Without being prodded, she confesses later, "I'm still attracted to the guy. I miss him. But I love my husband too, and he's more important to me. That's why I choose to keep things between me and Nathan on a professional level. It's better for my sanity and my marriage."

Seven Tips to Prevent Infidelity

Here are several suggestions on how to help married couples who treasure their union to stay faithful to each other:

1. Maintain appropriate walls and windows. Keep the windows open at home. Put up privacy walls with others who could threaten your marriage.
2. Recognize that work can be a danger zone. Don't lunch alone or take coffee breaks with the same person all the time. When you travel with a co-worker, meet in public rooms and not in a room with a bed.
3. Avoid emotional intimacy with attractive alternatives to your committed relationship. Resist the, desire to rescue an unhappy soul who pours his or her heart out to you.
4. Protect your marriage by discussing, relationship issues at home. If you do need to talk to someone else about your marriage, be sure that person is a friend of the marriage. If the friend disparages marriage, respond with something positive about your own relationship.
5. Keep old flames from reigniting. If a former lover is coming to the class reunion, invite your partner to come along. If you value your marriage, think twice about having lunch with an old flame.
6. Don't go over the line when you're online with Internet friends. Discuss your online friendships with your partner and show him/her your e-mail if he/she is interested. Invite your partner to join in your correspondence so your Internet friend won't get any wrong ideas. Don't exchange sexual fantasies online.
7. Make sure your social network is supportive of your marriage. Surround yourself with friends who are happily married and who don't believe in fooling around.