3 Relationship Rules Not to Apply at Work

Success in the workplace is achievable with hard work and determination, and by not applying these three relationship rules.

Work and relationships both make up a large part of our existence. Both give us satisfaction and fulfillment. Both can be taxing if not managed well.

For a relationship to be successful, we need to give our partner the right amount of care and attention. Similarly, we need to do our best at work to get promoted, recognized or, at least, a salary increase.

We must invest time and effort in our relationships and at work for them to grow and prosper, and for us to do so as well.

If only people invested as much of themselves at work as they did in their relationships, and vice versa, there wouldn’t be so much dissatisfaction in the world.

So then, we just need to do at work what we do in our relationship, right?

Wrong.

There are some hard and fast rules in a relationship that do not necessarily apply at work. Read these before you make the mistake of committing them:

Relationship rule 1: Don’t have two or more lovers at the same time

Simply put, don’t be a player

Exclusivity is a given in any relationship. Okay, most relationships. Once you have agreed to be in a relationship with someone, understand that you can’t continue to pursue someone else. Two-timers have a special place in the Second Circle of Dante’s Inferno.

Having two or more lovers is not only largely frowned upon, but also illegal if you’re married. Fortunately, it doesn’t always apply at work. In fact, it may even be encouraged or recommended for some people who need to supplement their income.

Work rule 1: Have two or as many clients as you can handle

Hustle, baby, hustle!

You can have two (or even more) jobs, especially if your work allows flexi time. You can have a full-time job and a part-time job. You can have an office job and do freelance work on the side. You can also have multiple part-time jobs.

A lot freelancers do this. It’s okay to have multiple clients as long as you are sure you can provide quality work to all of them. Some people find it easier to do this because they find working eight hours straight to be exhausting.

Remote work has been such a game changer in a society that thrives on connectivity.

There are companies, however, that don’t allow their employees to have side jobs, so make sure you’re not violating any agreement before you start looking for more work.

Relationship rule 2: Don’t tell your partner you have someone else

If you have to be a player, at least be a pro

As the song goes, “never let your left hand know what your right hand’s doing.” If you’re playing the field, you have to make sure you don’t get caught because, obviously, people don’t really like being played.

We don’t condone cheating, so this is not really a relationship rule for us. However, players abide by this rule.

Work rule 2: Be transparent with your client

Honesty is still the best policy

When it comes to work, it’s not only okay to have multiple jobs, but it’s also even better to let your boss/client know that you have another job. It helps set expectations on what they can ask you to do on top of your regular duties. It doesn’t mean you can start slacking off at work because you’re too exhausted from having two jobs.

Remember, you can’t expect your boss to understand that you underdelivered because of your other job.

Being transparent about your employment situation builds trust between you and your clients.

Every rule has an exception, and even this one has. Some freelancers play by a player’s rules and get away with not telling their clients about each other.

One freelancer with four to six clients has even said that, because she focuses on each client as if they were the only one she has, none of them has any complaints about her work. They have no reason to suspect she is juggling them, either.

Given how satisfied her clients seem to be, they probably wouldn’t even mind if they found out she wasn’t theirs exclusively.

This would never work in a relationship. No matter how satisfied you keep all your lovers, once they find out they’re not the only one, you will find yourself kicked to the curb faster than you can kick yourself for not being more careful.

Relationship rule 3: Break it off with your partner before entering another relationship

Don’t be a swinging monkey

A swinging monkey grabs one branch before letting go of the other. At least it does it for survival. If it tries to be too acrobatic and lets go before it has grabbed the other branch, it would probably die.

Two-timers mostly do it because of selfishness (can’t choose between two good things) and cowardice (don’t have the heart to be honest).

If you are a sane adult who can tell right from wrong, then you know that it’s better to hurt someone with the truth that mislead them with a lie.

If only all couples followed this rule, we would have a lot less broken hearts and broken people. Most heartaches happen because people cheat. They are no longer happy in the relationship, but they stay until someone else comes along.

The ensuing drama makes it more difficult for everyone involved – as if a clean breakup wasn’t hard enough. If you’ve found someone new, just be honest with your current partner and leave before you pursue a relationship with that person.

However, if you do this at work, you could be sitting at home with a lot of bills and no prospects – for a long time.

Work rule 3: Don’t resign until you have another job lined up

It’s better to be safe than sorry

Even if you have been interviewed for a new job and they seemed impressed with your answers and credentials, don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Always wait for the job offer before you even type up that resignation letter or, worse, tell anyone in the office that you’re leaving (or were planning to).

Once you already have the offer in your hands, then that’s the only time to resign. Render two weeks to one month, and offer to train your replacement. It’s only fair. Don’t leave them hanging just like that.

In some cases, your boss just might counter with a salary increase to make you stay. Do not flat-out refuse. Tell him you’ll think about it, and really do.

I know of someone who inadvertently got two companies into a bidding war when he resigned after receiving a better offer. Both companies upped their offers three times until the new one threw in a senior management title and the other one threw in the towel. The old company finally accepted his resignation, but still had HR talk him out of leaving when he processed his clearances.

Just because it happens doesn’t mean you should stage a bidding war every time you try to leave. (Doesn’t it stir things up, though?)

Once you submit your resignation, be ready to stand firm with your decision. If your boss counters with a higher pay or more benefits, weigh in your options and think about why you resigned in the first place.

A better opportunity is always a fair reason to leave your job, but always do your homework. Check if the company is really legit. You might find that you’ve left your stable job for a bogus one.

To avoid being scammed, know what to avoid. Learn how scammers scam freelancers to check for any red flags in a job post.

Be a legit worker, yourself. Register with the BIR as a freelancer to pay your taxes and be a more useful member of society.

Bonus relationship rule: Don’t pimp your partner

Seriously, don’t be that guy (or girl)

Pimping is not only illegal in most parts of the world, but also morally wrong in so many ways.

If you do it, especially to your own partner, some nerves in your head must not have connected properly when you were in the womb or maybe you were dropped one too many times as a baby.

Pimping your own partner is one of the lowest things you can do as a human being, even worthy of stripping you of the honor. It degrades your partner, making them feel worthless and undeserving of anyone’s love. It’s one of the finest ways to destroy a person.

You wouldn’t do that to someone you loved and respected.

Bonus work rule: Refer your worker or co-worker to your colleagues

If he or she made you happy, spread the word

The work counterpart of this rule is mostly for the client or boss, but can also apply among co-workers.

When it comes to work, referring (rather than pimping) your worker (or co-worker) is actually a great way to recognize their abilities. It means recommending them to other clients because you believe in them.

Many freelancers have gained multiple clients from the referrals of their own clients. Referrals boost their morale, making them proud of their achievements and building their self-esteem.

In contrast to pimping, clients who refer their workers do not take a cut from their salary. They simply do it to show their appreciation.

The One Relationship Rule to Apply at Work

This universal rule applies to everything you do (that’s not illegal)

Give it your best.

Don’t do anything half-baked. Whether you like your co-workers or not, you agreed to do the job. Stand by your word.

And if things don’t start looking up no matter how much effort you put in at work, then just remember work rule number 3.