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Friends fans were delighted by reports that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer may finally be dating.
Almost 20 years after Rachel (Aniston) got off the plane in the series finale to be with Ross (Schwimmer), British magazine Closer reported the stars had begun a romantic relationship after reminiscing about their connection in the recent Friends: The Reunion.
"The first season, we, I had a major crush on Jen," Schwimmer, 54, told host James Corden.
Aniston, 52, interjected: "And it was reciprocated."
Instead of dating, the pair explained that they channeled their feelings into their characters as Ross and Rachel embarked on a romance of their own, but were they right to avoid their feelings while working together?
Should I Date My Co-Worker?
"It is a lot more common than some may think," Tina Wilson, relationship expert and founder of the Wingman app told Newsweek.
"Some of the most successful relationships are those where couples meet at work. Both individuals get to find out about each other without the formality of dating, so before it ever becomes a relationship, the couple know a fair amount about each other and can decide if they would be a good match before entering into it."
While there are advantages to getting to know someone at work before pursuing a committed relationship, relationship counselor and founder of My Trauma Therapy, Emma Davey advised caution.
"While my personal preference would be no, it can be so hard to meet people these days that you feel a connection with," she explained.
"Mixing business with pleasure can cause unexpected drama if you don't have strong boundaries in place. It can be very challenging so you need to understand that it's not going to be an easy ride."
Before starting anything, it's best to check your company policy as many will have strict rules on intra-office dating, though Davey said there are plenty of other unique challenges couples who meet at work face.
"You'll be seeing your partner both in and out of the workplace; that's a lot of time together which can sometimes feel suffocating.
"You also need to respect work boundaries, particularly if one of the couple is more senior than the other. You can't be seen to show favoritism at all, or you will put other work colleagues' noses out of joint."
"Tension arising from work situations being brought home and vice versa is the biggest problem for couples dating at work," Wilson continued.
"When emotions are involved it can be hard to separate the two. Being mindful that this something that can happen is half the problem to solving it, so that you both have to make an effort to separate it."
For those who are willing to take the rough with the smooth though, working with your partner can spark a deeper connection thanks to all the time you spend together.
Perhaps that is why Aniston and Schwimmer were able to channel their feelings into such a potent connection between Ross and Rachel that is still talked about more than two decades after their first kiss
Reminiscing on that scene, Aniston said during the HBO Max special: "I remember saying one time to David 'it's gonna be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is gonna be on national television—sure enough, the first time we kissed was in that coffee shop.
"So we just channeled all of our love and adoration for each other into Ross and Rachel."
Of this visible connection, Davey commented: "It seemed to create great chemistry between them, resulting in some amazing scenes for us as viewers, however, if you don't follow your hearts, then you'll always be wondering what could have been and perhaps they had both thought about that ever since.
"If the reports are true, they have got to that point where their feelings are genuine; they've gone through so much and now are in a better position to pursue the relationship.
"Now they are not just caught up in the moment because they were playing Ross and Rachel. You can always tell with time if the spark is still there and it seems that way with these two so it sounds like a wise move to put their feelings on hold for a while."
Should I Tell My Co-Worker I Have a Crush on Them?
Navigating workplace crushes is just as difficult for those of us who work regular jobs as it is for stars like Aniston and Schwimmer.
When it comes to sharing your feelings, you need to be very sure that they are likely reciprocated.
"No one enjoys a cold caller in life, so think of that as you approach the situation," Wilson advised.
"Just because you feel a certain way doesn't mean someone else aligns exactly with you but if you are going to take a leap, be prepared to be rejected and think it through.
"Rather than professing your love immediately it would be advisable to suggest a coffee or walk outside of work, to see if the person has any interest."
Davey agreed, adding: "You have to be very careful if you were to tell a co-worker that you have feelings for them because if the feeling isn't reciprocated, or you do it in the inappropriate way, it could be flagged to your HR team as harassment.
"If you do feel that the feelings are mutual, you could suggest going out for a drink after work. But, if the answer is no, then don't keep pushing. Read the signs."
When it comes to sharing a relationship with other colleagues, both Wilson and Davey recommended keeping things to yourselves unless there is an HR policy stating otherwise.
This avoids you becoming the subjects of office gossip or politics while you explore whether or not you have a long-term connection and can also help keep things exciting.
How Long After I've Left My Job Can I Date My Ex-Colleague?
Circumstance may be the only thing that prevented Aniston and Schwimmer from dating so soon after they stopped working together on Friends.
Schwimmer likened their relationship to that of "passing ships" as he explained: "At some point we were both crushing hard on each other but it was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship, and we never crossed that boundary, we respected that."
If after leaving your job, you have a crush on a former colleague who is already in an exclusive relationship, it's advisable to wait until they are single, Davey said.
"If you like someone and you're not working with them anymore, and you're both single, you have no reason to hold back," she said.
"Keep communication going after you leave and see if they reciprocate."
Timing plays an important role in many of our relationships, as Wilson explained: "Meeting the right person at the wrong time has happened to so many of us and hindsight is a wonderful thing."
Once two people who have harbored feelings for each other for so long finally get together, she said, "sparks will fly."
Davey agreed: "Finally, they can be true to themselves and be totally honest with one another; there's nothing holding them back now.
"Building a relationship on a friendship that has lasted years can be so powerful as you know each other so well already. You know one another's quirks and respect each other and care about each other's feelings.
"That person knows and loves you for you, whereas a lot of people may try to change you. The fact that neither acted on their feelings while they were in relationships shows a great amount of respect for one another which makes the perfect foundations for a future relationship."
