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Love Sex Power Inc.
By Leonardo Calcagno
Published November 2001

Romance in the workplace has become quite acceptable. With more liberated sexual mores and more women in the workplace [thank God!], work has become one of the better places for men and women to meet, date, mate and have wild sex. But office romance has more consequences than just plain sex; when sex politics are involved, it can have problematic repercussions when a fling becomes a management problem that creates havoc. Gossip among cubicles becomes an epidemic. A reputation as a "Ladder Whore" is easily spread like cheap jam.

I, however, think that sex on the job is about the only positive aspect of working at all.

So Does Lisa A. Mainiero, author of "Office Romance." She says work liaisons can improve office morale; motivate employees, encourage creativity and innovation, and boost productivity. It can soften work-related personality conflicts, improve teamwork, communication and cooperation. When office lovers hold jobs in different departments, they serve as a channel for communication. From an executive point of view, office romance can be used as a recruitment and retention device to stabilize the workforce.

The Players:

Ana, a secretary for a law firm
Melanie, a music executive
Sandra, a Web designer
Carlos, a business consultant

Leonardo: Had any good sex at the office?

Ana: Twice! Once with this cute guy in accounting. I was working late, and since I was watching his firm butt for two months and waiting to just attack him, we had sex on my desk. It was fantastic. I also had sex with a co-worker after a couple of drinks. I found out later that he was married. After the deed, he became a pain in the ass for two months... making dirty jokes, trying to repeat the experience. His wife found out and they got divorced.

Melanie: A couple of time, ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!....I work in the music business and there’s always these cute musicians around that I just feel like devouring! I'm a little bit slutty, but I lovvvve men! Once, I went out for two months with this guy in the shipping division. He turnout to be a stalker, calling me all the time and coming to my office to see if I was there! A total asshole.

Sandra: Only once I had a one-night-stand at an office party. The next day I was so embarrassed because al of a sudden, I was the bitch at the office. There were rumors about me having sex with every male at the party... anyway I was depressed for over a month, and broke up with my 3-year boyfriend when I told him what happened! Personally, I will never do it again!

Carlos: It’s hard to meet gay men in the business world, but I had a couple of hot steamy sex sessions in the office when I began working! I'm only 26 years old, no bad experiences. I met my lover John at my firm and we've been going out for almost a year.

As we can see every case is different, depending the circumstances. Forget those magazine quizzes, every person is different and the emotional equation from each one of us can't be analyzed, categorized or be understood. Realities and risk of romance at work can threaten career advancement, ruin professional relationships, cause co-worker confusion and scorn, may cause work performance to decline, lead to self-doubt and loss of objectivity, generate competition and conflicts, and generate professional conflicts of interest. To avoid such danger and minimize the risk of complication at work and more importantly your boss:

• Maintain an outstanding work record, so that career advancement will not be a threat. What's important in business is a good performance, this will be your best defense.

• Keep your objectivity in business decisions. Never mix work 'n' pleasure when handling decisions. This will be seen as personal integrity and dignity, keeping away worker animosity and management reprisals.

• Have a breakup plan when thinks get out of hand.

• Anticipating potential problems is the best solution. Be a little paranoid.

One of the biggest risks of dating on the job is falling for the BOSS! The temptation to use power by an upper executive to get you into bed is easy... remember we are human and power games in sex become a reality at work. If you break up with your superior, she may use her power to fire you or make your life in the office a living hell. If you are a secretary, remember that you have no power and in the corporate world you are seen as a minor player and easy to replace. Love in the real world is based on respect and equality. If you are a subordinate in love and work, your relationship becomes an unbalanced power struggle.

Before any emotional or sexual involvement at the office, ask yourself these questions and follow our rules to nookie at work:

• What's the potential risk to your career advancement?

• Try not to date your superiors.

• Make a thick wall between your personal and professional life.

• If it's a one-night nightmanre, be sure he or she understands this!

• Clarify from the beginning to each other what do you want from the relationship!

• Anticipate possible conflict-of-interest

• Are you prepared to the possibly negative reaction from your colleagues and superiors?

• Be aware of office norms about romance before anything!

Sex at work is not all that bad. The only thing is to watch your back and understand the limits of your sexual pleasure at work... enjoy!

Leonardo Calcagno, well know writer in Montreal Canada. He's been writing for local Canadian, Americano and European e-zines and zines in French, Spanish and English for almost 5 years. More known to get hate letters from right-wing housewives and to get into fights with promoters who don't let him interview bands! You will mostly see him eating tofu dogs and drinking Guinness with his laptop in Montreal writing another article about politics, music and sex. Graduated with a bachelor degree in International Politics with a minor on international law... his parents are still wondering why he took on a life of sex writer! Tattooed with Che, Husker Du and ARA! Played chino-Hispanic punk on Les Kalisses D'immigrant, Trash Blues on Les Tetes Reduites and now stoner rock on Your Sister ! He contributes on Freezerbox.com, Kerozen, Indymedia.org, Stooky.com, Eroticandy.com, Biotech Montreal Action, QuebecTel, Zona de Obra and other zines!

For more of Leonardo's work, please visit www.montrealnightguide.com and www.montrealconfidential.com

 
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