When Ikenna and Uloma met at their workplace about a decade ago, they never knew they would end up as husband and wife.
As fate would have it, they soon fell in
love with each other and began dating. They were soon confronted with a
big challenge; their office frowned on open amorous relationship between
members of staff. Yet, their love blossomed everyday and at a point,
they agreed to take it further by promising each other marriage.
Knowing the company’s policy on two
members of staff getting married, Ikenna made sure Uloma secured a job
before they got married. Shortly before their marriage, Uloma resigned.
The same cannot be said of Biola and
Amiola who are software application developers for an Information and
Communication Technology firm. Both are brilliant and were the pride of
their company. Some software they developed helped their company become a
leading force in the ICT world and it helped their stock rise in the
capital market.
Continue reading after the cut....
Things were beautiful for them until they
both became an item. Their relationship blossomed and was leading to
marriage until they realised they both had the same genotype, AS.
Knowing this would most likely spell doom for them in future as they
could have children with sickle cell anaemia, they had to part ways.
Their break-up affected them seriously
because they were genuinely in love and it reflected on their work. From
being one of the most brilliant minds in the company, they became
another number in the company.
Because of the fallouts of their breakup, a policy was made against two members of staff engaging in serious relationship.
Kelvin and Isioma who met at work six
years ago got married about three months ago to the astonishment of
their colleagues who had no idea that they were dating.
Both were at one time or the other
employees of the year and were favourites of virtually everybody at
work. Although their company frowned on relationships within the office,
because of their dedication to work, it took it upon itself to sponsor
their wedding.
Adesoye Joshua, an executive at the Lua
Concept Interior Design, believes that an amorous relationship among
co-workers reduces the productive output of an organisation. He told
Saturday Breeze that he cannot subscribe to such relationships.
“When people are in a relationship, they
tend to talk a lot and spend so much time on idle chats at the expense
of the company. Especially during the early stage of their relationship,
they would want to be together all the time,” he said.
The interior decorator said that his
company was indifferent to the issue. He told Saturday Breeze that an
action by one or both parties could affect the business of the office
negatively.
Joshua said, “If either of the spouses is
a jealous one, it could spell trouble for the company they work for. A
jealous mind cannot work efficiently. Also there is the break-up aspect.
It is not all relationships that work out as planned. If they break up,
there could be a serious breakdown of productivity from the heartbroken
depending on how emotional the person is.
A young lady, Nike Adeniji who worked
with an advertising company narrated to Saturday Breeze how she got her
fingers burnt because of an office dalliance she got involved in. As
someone who cherishes respect, she lamented that she got the exact
opposite when she went into a relationship with a fellow worker.
Adeniji said,“I got engaged in an office
romance some years back at the advertising firm I worked for. Before, I
was indifferent to it because I know some people who met at work and
later got married. When the guy approached me, I was reluctant but l
later accepted his advances after several rejections. At first, we were
very close friends at work till I agreed to be his girlfriend. He was so
polite and was always there for me especially when my father died. I
think it was one of the reasons I agreed to his advances after seeing
how caring he was. But several months into the relationship, I noticed
that he began to act differently.
“Even when I invited him out on weekends,
he would tell me that we would always see in the office. This was a guy
that would be disturbing me from Wednesday for us to hang out on
weekends. He also became disrespectful towards me especially in the
office regardless of who was around. When I could not take it anymore, I
decided to call it quits. He later came back begging but by then, it
was too late. I have promised myself I would not be romantically
involved with any co-worker anymore; there are other men outside the
office space.”
The reputation of a lady simply
identified as Belinda who used to work for a leading insurance company
in Lagos took a dip due to an office romance she got involved in. She
was involved in a messy affair between two men.
An employee of the firm told Saturday
Breeze that Belinda was having an affair with two men in the company;
the Managing Director of the firm and another fellow worker, Franklin.
When Franklin, who had hoped to marry
Belinda realised she was dating his boss, he wanted to call it quits but
couldn’t for fear of what the light-skinned young lady would do to him.
Months later, he met a girl, Nkechi, and a
whirlwind romance started. He soon began arrangements to get married to
the girl but before then, he told her about Belinda.
“When Franklin met Nkechi, they hit it
off almost immediately and they were very compatible with each other. As
they were getting serious, he confided in her what was happening in his
office between him and Belinda
She told him that before they could get
married, he had to call it quits with Belinda and he agreed. But Belinda
proved a hard nut as she told Franklin to stop the bad joke. She
threatened him to get serious because any attempt for him to dump her
would result in his sacking from the company. He knew she was not
bluffing so his hands were tied ironically, the managing director was a
married man. When things were beginning to become messy and the board of
directors heard of what was happening, the MD was sanctioned and
Belinda was asked to leave. Franklin is still with us but told us that
he would never be involved in such romance in his life.”
Franklin is now a senior executive at the
firm and is married to Nkechi. They have two children together and
nothing has been heard of Belinda ever since.
However, the tale of those who are
romantically involved with their colleagues is not always a sad one.
Most of those who engaged in such relationships are now married with
kids and have happily-ever-after stories to tell.
So is the case of the Olopades who now reside in Canada. Bukie, now a mother, told Saturday Breeze
that she met her husband while they both worked in a first generation
bank in the 90s. She said that the downside to their amorous
relationship was that the company’s policy forbade a woman is changing
her name even after marriage.
“My husband and I met when we worked for a
first generation bank. We dated for some months and we got married. Our
company permitted us to get married and still worked together but women
are not allowed to change their names to their husbands’. After some
months, I opted for transfer but that was solely our decision. If I had
wanted to remain in that branch, I would have but we felt it was for the
best,” she said.
Mrs. Gbamgbose, a worker in the Lagos
State Secretariat, Alausa, said that she met her late husband in the
ministry in the early 80s. Now a grandmother, she thanked God for her
work as she almost turned down the job when it was offered to her. If
she had, she said she probably would never have met her husband whom she
believes was destined for her from heaven.
Gbamgbose said, “I met Dada while we were
both working in the ministry. He is dead now and I miss him everyday
but I thank God he was in my life. I almost rejected the job because I
had another offer then. My parents and friends advised me to accept the
job and I agreed. Dada was my boss and I was shocked when he made
romantic advances towards me. I saw him as an upright man and whenever
he brought up the topic, I could see the seriousness in his eyes so I
gave him a chance and it was worth it.”
The civil servant advised that if one
must go into a relationship with a fellow worker, then it must be
certain that it would end well for the sake of both parties and the
company.
“I do not frown on the idea of being in a
romantic relationship with someone in your office. I would only advise
that both parties should know what they are doing before they venture
into it because it is not easy to sustain such relationships. They have
to know that it could lead to marriage and so they should be careful,”
she said.
-Ademola Olonilua/Punch
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