Setting Boundaries in the Workplace

How do you avoid crossing boundaries?  Is it worth the risk losing your family?

• A HEALTHY work spouse situation is between people who would never let their friendship venture in to an inappropriate space, and understand that fine line.
• NEVER share personal information about yourself at work, especially private details of your marriage. If someone does share personal information with you, tell your spouse so you don't create a secret world your spouse is not aware of.
• Be upfront and HONEST about the closeness and bond of your real-life relationship.
• Don't be alone with a person of the opposite sex separate from your job. Romantic relationships come out of recreational activities and intimate conversations. <---Any fool knows this!
• Don't drink with your work spouse. When you drink, boundaries get blurred.
• Introduce your real spouse to your office spouse, so it isn't exclusive.
• Avoid constantly talking about your office spouse at home. Don't overdo it.
• Aim to keep the mood light and happy with your work spouse so that drama from home doesn't bleed in to what should be a professional relationship.
• Keep the lines of communication open between other co-workers and your real-life spouse so that your work spouse relationship is not interpreted as a clique, or exclusive.

If something you're doing outside of the home where you feel you're unable to share with your spouse, it's safe to say that it's most likely wrong!  Know your values, if you have any.  If you're unhappy in your real marriage, either fix it or end it.  Everything you do as an individual being married affects everyone in your family.