In an ideal world, the workplace is where you would meet your dream girl or guy. You spend an average of forty hours a week with them, and you get to know them better than you know most people outside of work. It’s no wonder that office romances are much more common now than ever, especially with such a high percentage of women in the workplace today as compared to the past.

However, this is not an ideal world, and there are a lot of complexities that can arise when you date your coworker. People tend to not have as much time to go out and date in today’s world, so they decide to find mates at work, which can lead to certain issues that require prior thought and consideration.

Here are a few of those tips you’ll want to toss over in your head before deciding if you want to get involved romantically at work:

1. Think it out, long and hard. Once you make this decision, you’ll face all the good and bad consequences of it. This could mean dealing with looking at the person every day even if you break up. Are you ready for that?

2. Evaluate everyone. Who would be the worst to date based on position and personality? If your a boss, don’t date one of your employees. It’s a great way to get both of you fired, and piss off the other employees who are fearing favoritism in the meantime.

3. Think some more. Don’t just go out and grab someone. Think about all the angles at play. You may have to decide against certain prospects because of the way other coworkers may handle it.

4. Remember that it is still a relationship. You’ll want to actually like the person you pursue, and that starts with having a friendship with them.

So there you have it. Essentially, the best thing to do is think, think, and think some more. There is no limit to the amount of thought you should give this matter. You could end up costing yourself a job, a friendship, and a happy workplace.