The Office is a Great Place to Meet Your Next Spouse
And Valentine's Day is a great time to let your office spouse know you're serious
I met my spouse at work. It certainly wasn't an unusual thing to happen. Dating happens from within the circle of people you know, and being thrust together at the office is a way to get in the circle with someone.
Dating apps are a fine way to meet people but I'm told most men are only there for one thing: to lie about their looks, accomplishments, and endowments.
At least at the office you see how a person reacts under stress, deals with assholes, and cleans up a mess, especially a mess they didn't make. Anyone who can do all that and keeps showing up is a keeper.
That said, there came a point when I decided I couldn't keep working with my spouse and stay married to them. So I found another job. There is one married couple I know at work (they met there—second marriage for both) but they don't work in the same department.
The real problem with working with your actual spouse is that it puts a cramp in having an office spouse, that special someone who listens to you vent, goes to lunch with you from time to time, but doesn't have access to your checking account.
So let's take some time to appreciate our spouses and office spouses.
And never may the twain meet.
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For Your Office Spouse
If you have an office spouse, you know the routine: do something nice for them on Valentine's Day, but not so nice that the entire office (or your actual spouse) hears about it.
And if you've got a crush on someone, maybe this is your chance to let them know you'd like to be spend more quality time at the office with them, hanging around in their cubicle without any business reason, swapping stories about your actual spouses. You’re friends without benefits.
Come to think of it, must jobs are without benefits, but we’ll cover that later.
If you work remote, sorry. With your actual spouse hanging around your "work" area, it really kills the vibe with your office spouse.
Here's a list of last minute gifts for your office spouse:
Box of pens from the supply cabinet
Subway sandwich card that's completely filled out
Chocolate gathered from that one cubicle that always sets out chocolate
Paperclip chain with one link for every year they have until retirement
Clean mouse pad lifted from the desk of a hybrid-remote worker
Mouse jiggler so they can go for an extra long walk with you without their Teams status flipping to "idle."
Granted, the last one is something you'd have to actually purchase but it is the ultimate "Look Busy" gift.
LOOK BUSY PRO TIP: If someone is using a mouse jiggler at the office, they won't call security if you steal it.