Love Relationships at Work

Bips was a young, vivacious woman with lots of dreams and career goals. She had recently joined a multi-national company at an entry-level position and was really excited about her new job. She had a great workplace, supportive colleagues and a boss (John) who always encouraged her and appreciated her work. Bips secretly had the hots for her boss, but she didn't dare speak to anyone about it, lest her boss found out. Little did she know that John hadn't been able to take his eyes off her ever since she'd first stepped into the office. Well, such things rarely remain a secret for too long, and soon, both of them had begun seeing each other. As the days passed, Bips realized that she was beginning to fall in love with John. One night however, she noticed a picture of another woman in his wallet. It turned out that the other woman was John's wife. She questioned him about it and he looked the other way. It dawned on her. Things began to get ugly between them. Soon, word spread among the other co-workers. When the news reached the ears of the company's CEO, he called them both to his cabin. Twenty minutes later, both were seen clearing their respective desks and drawers.

The above story was one possible scenario regarding the outcome of love relationships at work. However, that does not mean that anyone and everyone who falls in love with someone from their workplace will suffer the same fate. No Sir, that is definitely not what I am suggesting. What I am suggesting, is that the concept of love relationships at work or office is something that is extremely tricky, and one which needs to be given careful thought.

How Safe Are Love Relationships at Work?

Basically, when it comes to office or workplace romance, there are 2 main possibilities:

* A genuine love relationship between two co-workers.

* A casual fling or affair between two co-workers.

At the same time, there is another very important factor to consider - whether or not one of the co-workers is single. If you have a scenario wherein one of them is single, but the other is a married person having an extramarital affair, then this is nothing but a recipe for professional disaster. This kind of relationship will only invite trouble, regardless of whether the concerned twosome are genuinely in love with one another, or are having a casual affair. Such relationships are frowned upon at most professional workplaces and the final outcome is never too pleasing for the two people involved. You will only end up ruining your professional reputation, spoiling your professional resume and hindering your career ambitions.

If however, it happens that both the concerned people are single and are genuinely in love with one another, then the situation is completely different. This type of relationship can, or may, have a positive outcome. Consider a situation wherein you (single) are in a serious love relationship with someone else (also single) from your office. Now if that person happens to be working in a different department, then things shouldn't be a problem. If you both are serious about each other, and if you both feel that your relationship can grow in the future, or can go ahead in a positive direction, then it's no one else's business. This is a perfectly acceptable situation and one against which nobody should have a problem.

However, if you have a situation wherein you (single) happen to be in a serious love relationship with someone else (also single) who is either your superior, subordinate, or someone from your department whom you regularly work with, then this situation could lead to a few complications. However, these complications can be dealt with. If you are in a genuine love relationship with either your superior or subordinate, and both of you see a positive future for your relationship, then you can consider speaking to someone from the higher management in order to try and get yourself transfered to a different department. That will solve the problem of awkwardness which otherwise would have existed, should either of you land up in a position where one has to report to the other.

Well, this was a little bit of relationship advice regarding the sensibility of entering into love relationships at work. Remember, a love relationship at the workplace always manages to raise a few eyebrows. But if you both are genuine about it and you ensure that you follow certain workplace ethics, then there's no reason why it shouldn't work.

By Tintin

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Mencintai Tangan Ibu

Suatu hari, seorang anak remaja, secara tidak sengaja, mendapati bahwa kedua tangan ibunya ternyata jelek sekali karena bekas luka bakar. Selama ini sang ibu berhasil menyembunyikannya dengan selalu memakai baju berlengan panjang. Si remaja kaget, terkejut, dan menunjukkan mimik tak suka setengah merasa jijik.

Ibu yang melihat reaksi anaknya demikian berkata dengan lembut, “Nak, ke sini deh sebentar. Ibu mau cerita tentang tangan ini.”

Perlahan si anak mendekati ibunya.

“Kamu mau tahu kenapa tangan Ibu jelek seperti ini?” tanyanya.

Si anak menggeleng perlahan.

“Ceritanya begini. Dulu, ketika kamu masih bayi, kita adalah keluarga baru yang merantau ke Jakarta ini. Ayahmu hanya mampu mengontrak rumah sederhana di pemukiman padat. Setiap hari ayahmu membanting tulang mencukupi kebutuhan kita, sedangkan Ibu selain membesarkan kamu juga harus bekerja sebagai buruh cuci.”

“Suatu hari, ketika Ibu sedang bekerja, terdengar teriakan, ‘kebakaran ... kebakaran ... kebakaran’. Dengan panik, Ibu meninggalkan cucian, berlari menuju tempat kebakaran. Sesampai di sana badan Ibu langsung lemas, karena ternyata rumah kita sedang diamuk api.”

“Tahukah di mana kamu waktu itu? Di kamar tertidur pulas. Dengan histeris Ibu menerobos masuk untuk menyelamatkan kamu, tetapi dihalangi oleh masyarakat. Tentu tidak mungkin Ibu membiarkan kamu dilalap api. Dengan sekuat tenaga dibantu badan yang licin karena dipenuhi sabun, Ibu pun terlepas.”

“Ibu menerobos masuk, menerjang pintu kamar, dan menemukan kamu sudah dikelilingi api. Syukur kamu belum apa-apa. Dengan segera Ibu membungkus kamu dengan sarung basah. Tinggal, bagaimana caranya keluar? Asap hitam di mana-mana dan Ibu kehilangan arah. Namun Ibu nekat menerobos dan berhasil menemukan pintu keluar.”

“Sayang, karena panik, Ibu tidak memperhatikan sekeliling. Sebatang kayu yang sedang terbakar jatuh dan menimpa tangan Ibu. Kamu terlepas dan diselamatkan warga. Tapi seperti nilah jadinya tangan Ibumu.”

Mendengar kisah dramatis itu, si remaja diam terpaku, terpesona. Perasaan haru muncul di hatinya hingga tidak sadar air mata pun meleleh di pipinya. Perlahan dia pun mendekatkan dirinya ke tangan itu, memeluk, dan menciuminya dengan lembut seraya berkata, “Tangan Ibu hebat dan kuat. Aku bangga, Ibu begitu mengasihiku, rela mengorbankan segalanya untuk menyelamatkan aku. Sungguh, aku sayang tangan Ibu.”

* * * *

Sesuatu itu baik atau buruk tergantung bagaimana kita melihatnya. Tangan Ibu tampak buruk tanpa kisah dibaliknya. Namun ketika kisah tangan itu diceriterakan, maka seketika terjadi perubahan pandangan: dari tangan buruk menjadi tangan indah.

Etos 5 yang berbunyi kerja adalah ibadah, aku bekerja serius penuh kecintaan, menuntut kita menggeser cara pandang pada pekerjaan. Ketika kita mampu bekerja dengan niat untuk dibaktikan kepada Tuhan, dalam sekejap wajah pekerjaan pun menjadi indah.

Wajah kerja sering kali terasa buruk. Bisa karena upahnya kecil, jauh jaraknya dari rumah, suasana terasa monoton, upahnya tidak setinggi harapan, teman sekantor tidak bersahabat, dan banyak alasan lainnya. Namun jika kita mengerti bahwa pekerjaan adalah cara Tuhan memberkati kita, maka timbullah kesadaran baru bahwa pekerjaan itu sangat berharga, bahkan mulia.

Renungkanlah makna baru pekerjaan anda. Dengan pekerjaan itu, melalui pekerjan itu, anda pernah, sedang, dan akan diberkati Tuhan. Dengan cara demikian, seperti diktum etos ini, kerja adalah ibadah, maka kita akan mampu bekerja serius penuh kecintaan dan penuh sukacita.

Makna lain kisah tangan Ibu, pasti bisa Anda petik.

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