We all know single people (and even many married ones) who spend most of their waking hours at work and dream of finding true love on the job as opposed to dealing with blind dates or online matchmaking. But the downside of finding your honey where you get your money is daunting: What if those kisses in a cubicle actually cost you your paycheck?

Instead of running with your heart, consider thinking with your head before hooking up with co-workers. I recommend the suggestions below.

* Check company policy. Before you get in too deep, find out if your company has a policy about workplace relationships. Many corporations have formal, written policies that prohibit them. Sometimes it includes all employees, or it may be limited to senior executives and their subordinates. Other policies extend to relationships with clients and vendors.

On the flip side, a growing number of policies are now being reevaluated. In your place of employment, this may be an evolving issue. But no matter what the policy, you should know up front if dating a co-worker will jeopardize your job.

* Consider your colleagues. Consider how your colleagues will react. Some may think you're focusing more on your new romance than on your work, whether it's true or not. There's a risk of alienating them, and distancing yourself from the people you work with can't possibly benefit your professional growth and development.

* Anticipate potential conflicts. What happens when you two are at odds, for personal or professional reasons? It puts an awkward strain on the workplace dynamics -- between the two of you, and among everyone you work with. No relationship is perfect, but even small disagreements or rifts can be magnified when you have to see your love all day long.

* Keep it to yourself. Be discreet, especially at the beginning. Dating publicly invites endless workplace gossip. Keep it to yourself until you see where the relationship goes. If it fizzles, no one needs to know, and you can avoid the headache of announcing a breakup.

* Keep it professional. Don't hold hands, and avoid all public displays of affection. Even if your romance is public knowledge, no co-worker wants to see your canoodling and lovey-dovey chit-chat.

* Keep your email clean. Don't forget that most workplace email is not private. In many companies, it's monitored, so before exchanging hot and heavy love notes, be warned that the boss may be reading what you write.

Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire and the workplace contributor on ABC's "Good Morning America." Connect with her at womenforhire.com.
The opinions expressed in this column are solely the author's.

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