Getting Naughty at Work

My new release, “Training the Receptionist,” is an erotic novella about a receptionist and her two bosses.  Politically correct, it’s not. We all know it’s risky to get involved with your boss. Let alone both of them. At the same time. Obviously, this is an erotic fantasy that should not be confused with real life. It’s fiction, not based on my personal experience or that of anyone I know.But in our society, we spend so much time at work, how can we keep our sexual selves completely separate? One estimate says we spend 164 more hours at work than we did twenty years ago. And work relationships can be very intense, even when they aren’t romantic.  Dana, my heroine, can’t possibly be the only one to give in to the lure of the forbidden in the workplace.Of course she isn’t, not even close. I did some research, and the numbers say sex in the workplace is more common than you might think. According to a recent study by staffing company Randstad USA, 37% of working adults have flirted with a colleague. 8% currently have a crush on someone they work with.  And 17% have secretly dated someone at work. According to surveys quoted in Marie Claire Magazine, the numbers are even higher: 47% of workers have had an office affair. Only 34% kept it a secret. I’d say Dana definitely has some company in the business of monkey business.Everything my characters Dana, Simon and Ethan do together is consensual, not to mention extremely enjoyable. But obviously, sex in the workplace is a minefield. What if it doesn’t work out? What if there’s a power imbalance? When does it become sexual harassment? Stories of celebrity office affairs have made headlines lately. (Dave Letterman, what were you thinking?)But it’s not all bad news. Most studies indicate that between 15 and 20% of Americans met their spouse at work.  So romance on the job can be a good thing. But experts say such dalliances work better if you follow a few guidelines. One, don’t betray a committed relationship. Two, don’t date someone in your direct chain of command. Three, don’t have sex in the actual location where you work. Dana, Simon and Ethan are all single, so no worries on the first count. But as for the other rules…. Yeah, they break all of those. Repeatedly. Enthusiastically.And why not? This is fantasy, and what is fantasy for if not the smashing of taboos and trashing of rulebooks? So go ahead, enjoy “Training the Receptionist.” Just don’t try it at home, or at work.What’s your opinion about on the job romance? Is it too risky? Hard to resist? Always wrong, or does it depend on the situation?Training the Receptionist is available now from Samhain Publishing. You can also download a Free Read called “Thanking the Receptionist,” which features the same characters. Stop by my website at JuniperBell.com, visit my blog or follow me on Twitter.Thanks for reading!Juniper Bell