An affair is one of the most terrifying words a partner could hear. However, an affair with a co-worker rubs salt in an already terrible situation. Because let’s face it, what can anyone do with a partner that cheats with someone they have to see on a daily basis? Unless the cheating spouse takes drastic initiatives to repair the marriage themselves, there is literally nothing the other one can do. The cheating spouse has to want to change.
When your spouse continues to work with a former cheating partner it’s a cycle of pain, even if they claim the affair is over.
So what do you do?
Under normal circumstances, post-cheating advice requires the partner who had the affair to cut off all contact with the other person – immediately and permanently. This is a major step towards healing and eventually, reconciliation. When your spouse still works with their former affair partner, however, things get trickier.
The process of rebuilding trust involves doing everything possible to help your marriage progress towards healthiness. And some of the stuff you do in the process may seem unreasonable and crazy to someone who is not in your shoes. Here are some few considerations:
Commit to being an unbreakable team
Find unity in teaming up to solve this issue and to deal with the co-worker in question. There is no room for hidden or vacillating agendas between you and your spouse. You must remain attentive to each other and be exceedingly team oriented.
Create a plan for being in touch during the day
This is no time to ignore your texts or calls. Transparency is essential and communication has never been more important.
Maintain public contact boundaries
Let the former affair partner and other co-workers who know – in no uncertain terms – that you and your spouse have both moved on together. Place a photo (or 3) of you in the workspace and refuse to ever be alone with the affair partner. If you’re on social media, use that space to reaffirm your connection and commitment. Without being desperate and overbearing, speak positively about your relationship when an opportunity arises.
Transparency
Speaking of social media, agree to have unlimited access to one another’s accounts and cellphones. You may even have your bank accounts linked, if you don’t already have a shared account. If you have to work after hours, ensure it’s verifiable with a third and fourth person. And working after hours cannot be with the former cheating partner. For cases where you have to work together, it’s important to let your superior know what you’re dealing with, so that the situation can possibly be avoided.
Engage an accountability colleague
Having a trusted friend at work that you have given the right to hold you accountable is another action you can take. The person’s job isn’t necessarily to police you. But they can hold you accountable when they notice that you’re lapsing into your old ways, and provide guidance. The golden rule is, no exchange with the former affair partner can go unreported.
Visit the workplace
It’s important that your marriage is built on a firm foundation of honesty and trust, and that your bond must endure and deepen. Under this circumstance, open the door to your spouse to pay you occasional visits, and encourage them to attend work functions where appropriate. However, they must be prepared to bump into your former fling, and must not cause a scene. They must ensure they are strong enough to deal with pressures of entering that space confidently and with dignity.
Change jobs
Obviously, this is not always possible and it’s no guarantee that the cheating spouse won’t do so with another colleague elsewhere. But in this case, we’re addressing couples that honestly seek to move forward in their marriage as a couple, not people who’re not ready to forsake their cheating ways.
Infidelity is a drastic situation that often requires drastic remedies. Seek counselling with your superior, colleagues and friends to discuss this option. If an opportunity presents itself, apply for another opening at a different location, or a different company altogether. Losing a job may be a sacrifice you both need to make for the survival of your marriage and long-term peace of mind. But this decision should be taken under advice.
Attend couples counselling
No matter how you define it, cheating with a co-worker presents some incredibly unique sets of problems to address. It’s not dramatic or an overstatement to call them make-or-break concerns. With all the emotions swirling around the disclosure of a betrayal, it is absolutely crucial to seek outside help.
Couples cannot and should not be expected to juggle all the nuances of such circumstances on their own. Meeting regularly with an unbiased and experienced guide is a powerful and sometimes necessary step towards finding answers to the myriad questions that seem to pop up by the dozens when you’re hurting.
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