Monday, January 26, 2009

I Live Under The Family Rock


The Work Spouse.

I'm just now hearing about this phenomena. Mainly because, I work for my family and have for the last umpteen years. Family businesses have their own issues. Like people not minding that they stink the fuck out of the restroom, leaving their dirty coffee cups lying around and my mom wondering why I don't want to come over after working 8 hours with her.

Explain to me how having a work spouse is different than cheating and/or having an emotional affair.

35 comments:

kim said...

I've never heard of this...ever. Where did you hear about this and can mine look like her, if I decide I want one??

Akelamalu said...

I love spending time with my man but I would hate to work with him/for him. Thankfully he's retired now.

Grant said...

I've never heard that term before, so I can't comment other than to comment that I can't comment.

Knight said...

I'm confused by the whole idea of a work spouse. I understand if you work closely with someone for an extended period of time of course you build a sort of relationship but there are all kinds of lines. Is a work spouse really just a friendship? I feel like there are a lot of if's. If you are married you should know what is appropriate behavior with another person and that is that.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Get in line, Kimber! ;)

Ake: I wouldn't wanna work with mine either! She's run me ragged.

Grant: Well said.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I work at home and never go anywhere. Maybe you're my work spouse RLL?????

Jay said...

I've heard of both "work spouse" and "blog spouse."

I guess it's all how you define "cheating." Some people don't consider "emotional cheating" to actually be cheating. Only "physical cheating" is.

And then some say "Eating aint cheating" too. ;-) LOL

Nolens Volens said...

I've heard of "work spouse". In fact, I was *told* that a certain co-worker (whom I've spoken about having had the hots for before she went 100% gay) was my "work wife", given the way we fight and talk. LOL

SkylersDad said...

Just for the sake of argument, what would that there work spouse at the top of the page be wearing under that short skirt?

Queen-Size funny bone said...

I'll take a good sexy spouse anywhere I can get one.

Brad said...

A work spouse is all masuess with no happy ending.

At least that's they way it's suppose to work.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I had a work-spouse for a while. There was nothing physical going on, and I was somewhat attracted to her. But, more than anythings, we were close friends of opposite gender.

Phoenix said...

Hey
You've been tagged !!

The rules of the tag are: Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given (family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like). Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.

Have fun !!!

Dana said...

Oh RLL, this phenomena must have skipped the lesbian circle! Yes, there are work spouses. Usually, that is defined as a person of the opposite gender (or same gender if one is "oriented" that way) that you have a work relationship to similar to that of your spouse (without the physical aspect). In other words, this person is someone you talk to about your troubles and successes - usually an emotionally intimate relationship.

Same thing with blogging/cyber spouses, but clearly even more emotionally intimate as there is no physical contact.

Cheating? Well ... maybe ...

I'd say much depends on the openness with your legal spouse. For example, husband has a "work wife" that I know about and that I am not at all threatened by.

meno said...

Jay and Brad are funny!

Anonymous said...

Oooh, work drama. I don't have any of that. I work with boys and girls I'd never consider getting close to in the sack or out.

Karen said...

I have had a work spouse. It is not cheating. It is just having the one person who you can count on and rely on and trust.

Slyde said...

im going thru some work drama myself right now, but of a totally different kind... i should probably blog about it but people who i work with read my damn blog...

Scarlet said...

Since I have two of everything now, maybe I should look for a work spouse on Craig's List.

It would probably help to have a job first. ;)

Unknown said...

I could NEVER work with my spouse or members of my family! I don't know how you do it! lol

~*Jobthingy*~ said...

i have never heard of this before.. so.. uh.. yeah.. happy monday :D

Recovering Grady Addict said...

You often see the Work Spouse in two person teams... like EMS, or with cops. I really can't think of anywhere else... but then again I live on an ambulance 5 days a week, 12 hours a day, with my "day husband". We are certainly NOT sleeping together, and aren't close enough friends or co-workers to care enough for an affair of the heart.

However there are rare tails of Ambulance Hanky Panky between work partners. And cheating is rumored to be common at the fire stations, where you live (and sleep in bedrooms) for 24 hours at a time every third day in most fire services. It's not usually work partners though, it's sneeking in a piece while your coworkers sleep. I couldn't imagine that cops have much of an opportunity to finagle this with work partners (well on duty at least).

While I have certainly been attracted to co-workers over the years, none of them have been my direct full time work partners.

13messages said...

That's a new phrase to me. I've had work crushes but never work spouses. Well, except for the one who became my actual spouse.

Anonymous said...

That's a new one on me. (The fact that I'm unemployed/in temporary work, so never in one post for more than six months at a time may have something to do with that.)

Reading others' responses, I can see how it might happen: two people sharing the experience of work could create a very close emotional bond. You'd have to be very careful not to let it screw up your other relationships, not least those with your other co-workers.

we're doomed said...

I need a work spouse. I never knew what I was missing, until now. Is that young lady in the picture available to be my work spouse?

Monogram Queen said...

You have got me here, never heard of it!
The hubs works with three women whom he calls his other wives, he does handyman stuff for them as they are all single. Is this what you mean kinda/sorta?

Biscuit said...

I've never heard of this, either, but now I know that I have one! I'm a cool kid! OMG! This has never happened!

The work spouse doesn't enter into the realm of sex, real or simulated via phone or internet. That's the difference.

Fortune Cookies said...

Wifester has a work spouse, but she's a straight, married woman. I'd be jealous if I didn't know better, but eh, I know both of them and I know they've worked together for so many years now that they are bonded much like soldiers in combat. That's all.
Working with family must get tiresome.

Anonymous said...

Not sure. Don't have a work spouse. I'm a guys girl. Not a girly girl. I'll go to Hooters with the guys here at work but that's as far as I go. ha. ha.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

In my 20's I worked with my girlfriend and we lived together.

There were nights she would come by and get me to leave and I would make up an excuse to not go home at the same time just for a little respite from being together 24-hours a day...

Never again I promised and held to that promise

Jormengrund said...

Hmm...

Work Spouses..

Then would I be considered a "work bigamist" because there are MULTIPLE folks who have been called my Work Spouse??

I mean, there are those I have to deal with because of their complete incompetence with the machines they work on.

There are the two that I deal with on a daily basis because of my job. Inventory doesn't count itself, you know!

Then there are the two that I just have fun teasing.. They don't say much in return, but it sure is fun seeing their reactions!

Am I really the work letcher, and I just don't know it yet?

Or am I the work giggolo?

I'm confuzzled now..

Vixen said...

Hmm....

Well *MY* work spouse doesn't look like that! LOL

But also my spouse that does work, works at HOME. I know his every move 24/7 and his mine. Luckily we have this great agreement where I can do anything I want, anytime I want. Seems to work great. ;)

darsden said...

That is super cool. Looks like he is giving his buddy a ride.

Advizor54 said...

I have a work wife and it's great. It's a little flirty, totally non-physical, affectionate, supportive, an my wife knows all about it.

A work spouse is just an emotionally connected friend at work that just helps you through the day. My wife is a WONDERFUL stay at home mom who was in the corporate world for years, but who has no idea what I do for a living all day (Technical Management) and so it's hard to come home an complain because she has no idea what I'm talking about.

My work wife does.

Christie said...

Jay was my work spouse when I was married to my ex. We were just friends, we ate lunch together, took breaks together, bitched about our significant others with each other, you get the point. But he couldn't yell at me about money, and I couldn't yell at him about being a lazy, fat, boring jerk-off. That is why work spouses work. Of course, now I can yell at him about those things since he is now my real spouse. Sucks to be him, right.