In life and at work: should couples share the same workplace?
Do couples who share the same workplace have it easy or are they at a disadvantage? We list the pros and cons.
We all talk of that often elusive work-life balance and how half our lives are spent juggling both the home and work fronts. But what happens if both you and your spouse work together? Does it make things easier or difficult? Or does the personal spill over into the professional? And where does one find the balance? Or can one confidently say, “A couple who works together stays together”?
Having a married couple in the office comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. So if you are planning on working with your spouse, it’s best if you are aware of the pros and cons.
Why you should work together – the upsides
It’s about the money
The financial aspect puts things into perspective if you’re working together. If you’re both working for the same company, you may benefit from bonuses or other incentives that may occur at the same time, leaving you to plan your financial future accordingly. It also allows you to travel to work together, cutting down on the cost of commuting.
The support factor
Having your spouse working together with you would also mean a shoulder to lean on when things get tough. Since you both are aware of each other’s work environment and situation, you can always offer support in times of a stressful situation. Understanding and acceptance of situations is much better.
Time together
With most of us spending an inordinate amount of time at work, a couple in the same office do get to spend some quality time together. They can meet for lunch or a quick coffee and find out how each other’s day has been. Whether you wish to share some good news, crib or vent, your partner is close at hand.
Time off
When a couple works together, they can also plan their holidays accordingly. Most often, people working in different companies find this to be a huge problem. The family, of course, benefits from this time together. Also, after office time, the couple can plan to see a movie or a play together or enjoy time with each other over dinner. They can also plan their shopping or other chores easily.
Why you shouldn’t work together – the downsides
Jealousy
We’re all human and jealousy does rear its head at times. When it comes to the workplace, often appreciation or one spouse doing better than the other can cause problems in the relationship. This also happens if one is more popular and a favourite with the bosses. Also, being too friendly with colleagues can also cause misunderstandings.
Stress
If both partners are undergoing the same levels of stress, they are most likely to take it out on each other. This is likely to spill over into their private lives and put a strain on the relationships. Stress could also lead to serious arguments. The trick here is not let your workplace stress get to you. Learn to differentiate; this way, things become easier to handle.
Competition
If both husband and wife work in different teams, there may be times when competition can get the better of their relationship. This may lead to friction with both of them carrying the baggage home to their family.
Social circle
Married couples in the same office tend to socialise mainly with their colleagues. There is no variety when it comes to interacting with people. They stick to cliques or groups within the office.
Same days
Both husband and wife have the same experiences, day after day. Life may thus become predictable and boring. There’s nothing different to talk about after office hours. It’s hard to generate a discussion on new topics and mostly conversations are centred on work-related issues.
Whatever the pros and cons, one must remember that work is an important part of life, but not life itself. There are other important things in life that will nurture and make your relationship grew. A little common sense, practicality, and a lot of trust and confidence in the relationship will go a long way to ensure that workplace life runs smoothly, day after day.
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