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Shortly before Christmas, I was asked if Lauren would be available to take on a freelance project at my workplace. She said it would be fine, so the next day we went into work together. A few weeks later, Lauren started as a full-time employee.
This got me thinking - how many people would feel comfortable doing this? Is it a little too close for comfort? Would you prefer not to mix your work life and personal life in this way?
Work friends
When I first started an office job, although I met some great people, there were some people who were very quick to sneer at the idea of socialising with work colleagues. They didn't feel they needed any new friends. Seems a bit odd if you ask me. We spend many hours working, so it's good if you can get along with the people you work with. Even better if you can forge friendships that go beyond the office.
Working with your wife or husband may not be an option for everyone, due to working in completely different jobs. However, Lauren and I have skills that complement each other perfectly. I am a back-end web developer, Lauren is a front-end web developer. We're actually working on the same project at the moment.
Family life
We worked together in Australia, too, as we worked for a software company run by Lauren's father. And we have also worked together on side projects, such as installing Injader for friends.
Flexible working
Perhaps the most unique aspect of working for the same company is that we can still work in a team when we're out of the office, such as doing additional hours when things get busy. I think we're really lucky to be able to do this.
Could you do it?
Have you ever worked with your partner? Would it ever be an option? Do you think you could do it? Why/why not?
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Comments on Could you work with your partner?
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No, when I owned a bar my biggest mistake was allowing my wife to work there. Keep your business life separate from your private life, or you may end up losing both.
My wife, who is a realtor, wants to have her realty office inside my law office, so she could save on office rent, overhead, secretarial staff, telephone, etc.
But I put my foot down. I want her to develop her own career, have her own office, try her luck and find her own place in the sun, while I am providing all the moral support. Our plan of having different offices seem to be doing fine. We could have saved a lot in her office's administrative and maintenance expenses if I allowed her to set up office inside my law office, but it makes me uncomfortable having her in my office daily.
The poet Kahlil Gibran in his The Prophet said:
Let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you."
We do just that.
Thanks for the comments guys.
Raj, I agree we are lucky. I hope you get the opportunity soon too.
Turnip, I think you have to be able to work together. I do see your point about separating work and private life, but we worked together before when we lived in Australia. It seems to suit us well.
Eli, Lauren and I work together well, but we don't work together constantly. We do get more of a break than you might expect. It works best if you're also working with other people, and you're not in a very confined space. We don't work in a huge office, but there are plenty of other people, and going out for lunch involves a walk around Central London. So we have plenty to stop us from annoying each other!
Currently, my husband of 40 years and I have out computers in the same room. Periodically he will interrupt what I'm doing to read something to me, or comment on something, but for the most part I think we could work together if we were doing it to make money. Right now, my genealogy work isn't much income for me, so he doesn't think I'm 'busy'. :) If I need to be able to concentrate though, I just tell him and he leaves me alone.
No, can't do it; Ian would no doubt kill me within minutes! Did you know powered wheelchairs (indeed any wheelchair in my hands) are noisy?
When you spend all day sitting down, you have to keep shifting position a little bit and often. I creak, groan, squeak, thump and bump all day; sometimes it even bothers me.
Wow !! you are truely lucky Ben !!
touchwood.
Its been my dream to work together with my partner, but due to the fact that we are into different work areas, She is in I.T and I am in sales, so, we are not able to be in the same company and do job together.
It would be a delight if I am able to do so.
May be it can be an option one year down the line, I am trying, Lets hope for the best :)