Work hot - how to keep your cool when things in the office heat up

WHEN a person is the most attractive in the set of people you work with, but are not necessarily hot, you end up lusting after them. This is "work hot", but beware, it can cause problems.

Laura Fernee says her good looks made it impossible to hold down a job. Picture: Screen grab

WHEN British woman Laura Fernee loudly declared she was too good looking to work, she attracted more than just attention from her ex-colleagues.

The 33-year-old, who has a science PHD, claimed her good looks made it impossible to hold down a job, and that her male colleagues were obsessed with her while her female workmates were just plain jealous.

"The truth is my good looks have caused massive problems for me when it comes to employment, so I've made the decision that employment just isn't for me at the moment. It's not my fault ... I can't help the way I look," she said.

Her comments attracted headlines and a volley of criticism from around the world.

But all modesty aside, it seems Ms Fernee may have really been onto something: what do you do, and how do you act when a colleague, or in her case herself, is work hot?

According to Urban Dictionary, work hot is defined as a person that may or may not be hot, but is the most attractive person in the set of people you work with so you lust after him or her.

In other words, when there is a limited pool to choose from, someone can seem good looking inside work hours, but lose all attractiveness as soon as the PC is switched off for the day.

And what may begin as a two-way exchange could easily lead to something more, with seven out of 10 Australians having had or known someone involved in a workplace affair.

Workplace blogger Kate Southam says work hot is defined as someone who is classified as attractive yet unattainable and that there's often at least one such person in every workplace.

And while having that work-hot crush can be harmless banter for the most part, Ms Southam warns that it can turn from "work hot to work not" very quickly.

She said aside from making someone uncomfortable with a flirty comment, this person may use it against you to win favour with others or even to get out of doing extra work.

Or in the extreme case of Sandra Bullock's character in The Proposal, she convinced her assistant (played by Ryan Reynolds) into acting as her husband to avoid deportation because of an expired visa.

Actors Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in a scene from 2009 film The Proposal. Picture: Supplied

Ms Southam also says some comments may border on the inappropriate and may end up causing embarrassment and humiliation for all involved.

"Just be careful as this (behaviour) can turn from work hot to work not very quickly and what can start as harmless flirting can end up humiliating yourself or someone else," she says.

"My advice is to get a work buddy to help keep you in check and try and regulate your own behaviour by asking if the situation was reversed how would this appear?"

For those on the end of the work-hot crush and who may feel uncomfortable about it, she suggests being upfront and telling the person involved it makes you uncomfortable.

"People aren't mind readers," she says.

"Just be upfront, tell them you know they're only joking but it's getting too much and you'd appreciate it if they stopped."

Ms Southam said if such behaviour continues, a clear line has been stepped over and it becomes offensive.

And while men "do seem to get away with less" male staff can also end up on the receiving end of a work-hot crush and inappropriate behaviour, and Ms Southam says ladies should also keep their behaviour in check.

Tips for dealing with workplace hot

• Be wary this person doesn't use your niceness to get you to do extra work

• Have a workplace buddy to keep your behaviour in check

• Regulate your actions - just because you're not offended by something doesn't mean to say someone else isn't

• Put yourself in the other person's shoes and ask how would you feel if you were on the receiving end of a work crush

• Be aware that while someone's personality might be attractive at work, they may be very different outside the office

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