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“Offices are often the easiest places to meet and fall in love,” says one expert. Here’s how to keep your career and relationship intact.

Have you ever had a crush on a co-worker? Maybe even pushed your luck with that crush and found yourself in a hot and heavy office romance? I think many YBPs have had a “you don’t know my name” type of moment where we found ourselves distracted at work because of a cutie in the office.

SnagAJob.com, an employment agency for hourly workers, discovered in an online poll with 800 respondents across the land: 72% of men, and 60% of women, are infatuated with a co-worker. Most (64%) intend to keep it a secret. Interestingly, men are more likely than women to reveal their feelings. According to this survey: 34% of women say they might spill the beans, while 40% of men kiss and tell. Another survey suggests that “men may be the office flirts, but women tend to establish more meaningful relationships” with the opposite sex.

Falling in love – or even just fooling around – at work isn’t without its risks. “The important thing is to stay professional and keep romance in its place,” says Andrea Nierenberg, head of a consulting firm called the Nierenberg Group. She offers these three essential tips:

Don’t mix business and pleasure. “Save romancing for breaks or after hours. Next time you come up with a cute nickname or amorous thought to share with your sweetheart during the workday, write it down in a notebook and save it for later.” R-rated e-mails are always (no exceptions) a bad idea. Big Brother is watching.

Know your company’s policy on office romance. Some companies, for example, don’t allow one member of a couple to report to the other. Bear in mind that, as far as your employer is concerned, “your dream romance can turn into a nightmare harassment case. Be aware of the legal issues, and act appropriately.”

Keep cuddling out of the copy room. “People are rarely interested in watching their co-workers snuggle in the break room or fight between cubicles,” notes Nierenberg. How true. “Colleagues will be much more likely to respect your relationship if you show discretion in how you behave around them.” The key word here is discretion.

“Offices are often the easiest places to meet and fall in love,” Nierenberg says. “If you handle it carefully, you never know – yours might end up being one of the 22% of office romances that lead to marriage.” And if not, well, at least you’ll stay out of trouble.

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Black History Trivia

Yesterday’s answer: Guion Bluford was the first African-American male in space. Robert H. Lawrence Jr. became the first African-American astronaut on June 10, 1967, but he died before making it into space. Other notable African-Americans in the space program include Bernard A. Harris Jr., the first African-American to walk in space, and Mae C. Jamison, the first African-American woman in space.

In what year was the Congressional Black Caucus organized?