We all have to communicate and collaborate with other people at work, but most of us start out instinctively trying to maintain an emotional distance from others in the work environment. In fact, most employee training courses recommend the distance if the work relationship crosses management levels, and most management policies strictly forbid fraternizing with the team.

Yet the 2013 Office Romance Survey (http://www.vault.com/blog/workplace-issues/the-results-are-in-2013-office-romance-survey/) by Vault, Inc. found by polling more than 1,000 professionals at companies nationwide that 56% had participated in not only a friendship, but an office romance, and only 9% think that office romances are never acceptable. So I decided to start looking for some expert guidance on the pros and cons of this issue.

In the book referenced earlier Who's That Sitting At My Desk? Jan Yager, PhD in Sociology, a coach and speaker on work...