Younger man - what do you reckon

[Shrivelleddate]

Ok both single he's late 20s I think, I'm 37 and look it!
Seen him around at work, we don't work for same dept but cross paths. We've had polite friendly banter, he seems a little shy.
I won't see him out of work, not much chance to get to know him.
I was thinking of handing him my number and taking a risk. Want do you think? Worried I'm an deluded old crow!
Not bothered about work gossip as married people shag in the offices so two singletons swapping numbers would be small fry!

How do you know for sure he's single?

I don't know for sure, just what people that know him better have told me. Obviously if I've been misinformed I'd back off.

I only see him in passing in a claustrophobic meeting area so really difficult to flirt, get to know if he's interested.

You need to get chatting and ask him he'd like to come out for a coffee or something. "I was just going to go to Starbucks. wanna come?" Casual and in passing. or "I heard about this new sandwich place round the corner and wanted to try it out with someone. Shall we grab lunch their later". That kind of thing.

Handing a number is really weird. A moment's chat is "been and gone" and if he says no its forgotten.

Handing a number means that if the answer is no he has a weird bit of paper with your number on. And could become a "this crazy woman at work just bunged me her number" joke story.

Same for emailing. Passing conversation is over in seconds. Plus you'll be able to see him/read his reactions to see if it's signalling yes/ yes but honestly can't right now/ or hell no.

Why are people so weird about work mates getting together?

Some companies are weird about work mates getting together. I had a reunion with some uni friends. Two of them work for the same company (were together before they worked there) and so we were talking about working together. They said they tried not to be on the same projects but otherwise it was fine, lots of couples at work. My workplace is the same, lots of couple at work, basically expected that the young single ones will get together. Some of the others said their company expected you to leave as soon as you hooked up with a work colleague!

In the OP's situation then it's fine, they don't work together, there's no management issues so just ask him out. He can only say no and it's a lot less embarrassing than a ONS that doesn't work out.

Why are people so weird about work mates getting together?
Some companies are weird about work mates getting together.

Is this a serious question?

A relationship between two people in the same company is destabilizing because it means that there is a conflict of interest. The partners will (or are likely to) put their relationship above the company and because they are working together it means that each may gain at the expense of others. Other workers aren't in this position.

Plus pillow talk means that other workers can't trust either partner with information about the other or that they don't want the other to know. Again destablizing and divisive. It is worse when the relationship partners are at different levels of seniority because there are fears of preferential treatment and genuine complaints about either may be suppressed.

Sorry OP but I wouldn't just had him your number.

I agree with PP re striking up a conversation no matter how hard it seems. Ask him for a coffee or to go for lunch - lunch always sounds far more innocent than dinner or drinks.

Or could you ask him about his contract if he is a temp? What his plans are this job? Would he like to meet for a coffee to discuss it? So long as you don't make it sounds like he has to shag you to keep/get a job you should be safe

If you have established some sort of mutual interest, a gig, a show or something, just say that you were thinking of going, and wondered whether he fancied joining you?

If he says no, its a low key rejection.

If he says yes, dig out your stockings suspenders and heels!