Reasons to Flirt at Work

It’s a lot easier to list reasons why flirting at the office is a bad idea, but that’s not to say that there aren’t any good reasons.  It can make employees more productive, allow you to get ahead at work, and, most importantly, it’s fun and can lighten a workplace’s atmosphere. 

When people enjoy spending time with their co-workers, they’ll be more likely to come into work with a positive attitude.  Flirting makes a boring job more exciting.  Certain studies have found that men are more likely to flirt at the office when they’re bored (women, for whatever reasons, flirt whether they are satisfied or not).  When your co-workers show interest in you and compliment your work, you’ll be more likely to get along with them.  Spending time with people that you enjoy seeing puts you in a good mood, and a happy employee is a more productive employee.  People are more engaged with their jobs when they have strong bonds with their co-workers.  Some people pick a particular person as the object of their on-the-job attentions.  These sorts of relationships are important because they allow pairs to deal with the stress that comes with most jobs.  This person understands your concerns better than anyone who didn’t work with you ever could.  He serves to brighten your spirits and make long hours fly by with his jokes and over-the-top flirting.  As long as everyone is comfortable, flirt away.  You may actually have more success if you flirt with everyone, however, as it’s less likely someone will perceive your flirtation as a sign of sexual or romantic availability or feel uncomfortable with your attention. 

Flirting can also help you advance your career.  Compliments, laughter, teasing, smiling at, and touching your boss can net you that promotion, raise, or bonus.  Just be observant and ready to stop your flirting at any sign that he doesn’t appreciate it.  Be subtle about it and you might even be able to escape the notice of the office gossips.  It’s no secret that charismatic people will do better than those who are antisocial and make no effort to get to know their co-workers and superiors, and, done correctly, flirting has its place in creating bonds between superiors and subordinates, as well as co-workers.

The most important reason why flirting at the office is a good idea is that it makes for a fun work environment.  Make eye contact with, smile at, joke with, tease, mimic, and occasionally touch your co-workers.  Ask them questions to show your interest and compliment them in the work they do well (sticking to work-related compliments is less likely to get you accused of sexual harassment). This will make your co-workers happy to spend time with you every day.  They might not have a choice, but you should make them feel like if they did, they’d still choose to work with you.  As long as everyone involved is happy with the situation and nobody crosses and boundaries (the “Would you say/do that in front of your partner/mother?” test is helpful here).