GhostGirl forwarded me this definition of a work spouse from Wikipedia:
A work spouse is a co-worker (usually of the opposite sex)[1] with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of a marriage; such as, special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and an unusual degree of honesty or openness. The work spouse is a potentially key relationship when one’s actual spouse or boy/girlfriend is not able to understand the nuances of the workplace. While it is not unusual for the relationship to contain elements of flirtation, this relationship can be threatened rather than enhanced if it becomes sexual.
Oh dear, I thought. I’ve had several work spouses. Have you?
October 15th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Oh yes.
CC
October 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Once he left, were you able to “marry” again?
October 15th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
No, not by the definition in Wikipedia. Not by any definition.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Ms. Theologian–
Theoretically I could, but I’ve never found another one.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I’ve had several… (I really did marry one of them though.) I also reflected that the job I hated the most and stayed at for the shortest period, I had no work spouse at all.
By current one is a female… does that make me bi,um,worksual?
October 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I’ve had a couple of work spouses, nothing that became illicit though I think one of them would have met me halfway, as it were. Like GhostGirl, I married my first work spouse. My work spouses since then are/have been people who were interested in things that my husband isn’t: stand-up comedy, British humor, discussing work/industrial philosophy, Zen/meditation, and so on. I believe we can’t depend on our spouses for everything,so as long as we keep things on the up-and-up there’s nothing wrong with having a work spouse.
However, I have more than one work spouse, each of which I discuss different things than the others. Does that make me a work polyandrist?
October 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I think most of us do.
I wouldn’t say they’re dangerous, though it is true affairs can often result when both parties are having relationship problems. I wonder if there’s any data (and I’m sure there is) along the lines of “Signs You’re Susceptible towards Having an Affair”.
October 17th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
It reminds me of that element of employee satisfaction that goes along with having a “best friend” at work. I think that “work spouse” is about the same thing.