There are a lot of discussions these days about office romances.
Is it ever acceptable to date your boss?
What if he is already married?
Can a relationship between a married boss and subordinate be platonic, or is it doomed to fail?
Some married bosses are as innocent as their wedding rings, but there are a few who cross the line and initiate an affair with their employees.
While some affairs end in happy marriages, most affairs end in heartbreak for at least one party if not both.
And the workplaces that allow such affairs can create hostile environments, especially if the affair ends badly.
If you suspect your boss is attracted to you or likes you romantically, it’s important to know what steps to take so that you don’t cross any lines yourself and become involved in a workplace romance.
In this post, we’ll explore how to tell if your married boss likes you romantically.
How To Tell If Your Married Boss Likes You Romantically
1. You get complimented often
Your boss is not only nice but also gives you compliments about your work and appearance almost every day.
It might seem like he is just being generous, but it is actually something more than that.
That’s what he does because he is trying to make you feel good about yourself.
He wants to be seen as the one who makes your day better and happier.
You can’t deny this fact anymore because this happens on a daily basis, and not at random times.
2. He acts differently around you
If your boss is romantically interested in you, he will behave differently around you as compared to his behavior around other colleagues.
For instance, he may come closer to talk to you or even touch your shoulder when talking to you.
He might call for unnecessary meetings to spend some time with you alone or he may find excuses to spend some time alone with you.
So, if your married boss is giving off intense and passionate vibes, there’s a good chance they like you more than just as an employee.
3. See how they talk about their relationship at home
One way to tell if your married boss likes you romantically is to pay attention to how they talk about their spouse.
If all you ever hear are complaints about how loud or messy their significant other is, or even worse, if they speak badly of them when you’re in earshot, this could be a sign that your married boss doesn’t have the best relationship with their partner.
It might also mean that they are looking for an escape, which makes you a prime candidate to fill that empty space.
It could also be that they don’t talk about their partner at all.
If this is the case, it could be because they are unhappy in their marriage and desperately want someone – anyone – to make them feel alive again.
No matter what they say, just keep in mind that they could be lying.
They might have the best spouse anyone can ask for but just want to have some fun.
4. Look at their actions toward others
How does your boss act around other men or women?
Are they flirty with everyone who comes into the office or are they only “friendly” when someone of the opposite s*x is around?
Does kissing hello and goodbye sound like something normal between them and other employees, or is it reserved just for your married boss whenever you see him or her?
If yes, beware – this could mean that your married boss likes you romantically because he/she wants you all to themselves.
5. Notice if they’re always asking about your personal life
Your boss is always asking about your weekend or what you did over the break.
They might even be asking about your love life—if you have one.
This is not a usual thing for bosses to do because they are usually too busy to care about their employees’ personal lives.
But if your married boss is asking, it could be because they want to know more about you so they can figure out a way to get close to you.
6. See if they invite you out of the office
If your boss invites you to lunch or another event outside of the office, it could be a sign they like you.
If they invite you to happy hour or to go out on weekends often, it’s also a sign they like you.
This is especially true if they ask you alone, but not other co-workers.
They may also invite you out of the office to help with a work project and spend extra time with you.
7. Watch their reaction when you mention your spouse/relationship
How does your boss react when you mention your spouse or significant other?
Do they seem happy for you or do they seem a little bit jealous or even sad?
If they seem really happy for you, it could mean that they don’t have any romantic feelings for you and are just trying to be a good colleague.
But if your boss seems a little bit too interested in your relationship or acts like they’re not happy for you, this could be a sign that they want to be the one who’s in a relationship with you, not your spouse.
8. You catch them staring at you often
Do you catch your boss staring at you often?
If you do, it could be because they are attracted to you.
It’s not easy for bosses to stare at their employees for long periods of time because they usually have a lot on their plate, but if your married boss is always looking in your direction, it’s probably because they want to get to know you better.
9. They’ll offer up personal details about their life that don’t seem necessary
Your boss might start telling you personal details about their life that don’t seem necessary, like how long they’ve been married or how many kids they have.
This is a sign that they’re trying to make a connection with you and figure out if you have anything in common.
10. They notice things about you — and remember them
You may not think that your boss notices the little things about you, but they do.
They may ask about the new outfit you wore today or the necklace you have on and remember the detail in their own way.
11. They give you gifts
This one may seem like a little bit of a stretch but if your boss starts giving you small gifts often, it could be because they want to show their affection for you.
Bosses usually don’t give their employees gifts unless it’s during Christmas or another special occasion, so if they’re giving them to you on a regular basis, it means they might be on to something.
12. Watch their nonverbal communication
Does your boss take every opportunity to be near you?
Do they choose to walk with you instead of someone else during meetings or do they volunteer to drive together?
When it comes time for a conference call, does your married boss sit as close as possible, even if there are other chairs available close by?
The way a married boss acts around you could mean a few different things: they are extremely passionate about their job and therefore wants to spend as much time as possible interacting with those they think can help them advance, your married boss is attracted to you romantically or both!
13. They burst out laughing at anything you say, no matter how dry your sense of humor is
Does your boss always laugh at your jokes, even if they’re not that funny?
If they are, it could be because they find you attractive and want to make a good impression on you.
It’s not normal for bosses to laugh at everything their employees say, so if this is happening, it means they’re trying to get closer to you in a romantic way.
14. They remember details about your personal life
If your boss remembers details about your personal life, like what you did over the weekend or what you ate for dinner, it’s because they’re interested in getting to know you better.
Bosses usually don’t care about their employees’ personal lives unless they’re attracted to them and want to figure out if there’s any potential for a romantic relationship.
If you’re noticing any of these signs in your married boss, it could mean that they’re attracted to you and may want to pursue a romantic relationship with you.
15. They flirt with you
If your boss is flirting with you, it’s definitely a sign that they’re attracted to you in a romantic way.
Flirting is a way of trying to get closer to someone and figure out if there’s any potential for a relationship, so if your boss is doing this, it means they’re interested in you.
While it’s not always easy to tell if your married boss is attracted to you, if you’re paying close attention, you may be able to notice some of these signs.
If you do think that your boss likes you romantically, it’s important to proceed with caution.
Even if they are attracted to you, it doesn’t mean that they want a relationship with you – they could just be enjoying the attention you’re giving them.
Married people can develop crushes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they want to act on them.
A married boss who likes you may flirt with you, but that’s not a guarantee that he or she will pursue an affair with you.
And if they want to pursue a romantic relationship with you, proceed with caution, still.
If you decide that you don’t want to pursue a relationship with your married boss, it’s important to be firm about your decision and make sure they understand that things between the two of you will stay professional.
Also, avoid doing anything that could lead to feelings of confusion or ambiguity.
You can also report to the management or authority if things get out of hand.
However, if you do decide to pursue a relationship with your married boss, it’s important to be aware of the possible consequences and make sure you’re fully prepared for what could happen.
