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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Dating co-worker ended badly

24 replies

BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:24

I'll try and keep this as short and as non confusing as I can.
I started dating/ mainly sleeping with my coworker that I've known for about 3 years.
We've always got on really well and about 5 months after my marraige ended I was on a work night out that he came to and it started from there.
When we were seeing eachother for about 4/5 weeks I was on another work night out that he couldn't attend but I was talking about him non stop and we were texting back and forward all night. At the end of the night it was just me , my friend and an older married coworker left and we decided to go get some food. As we were walking down the road my friend was walking behind me and the older coworker so we stopped to wait for her to catch up. When I turned around my married coworker kissed me, it was completely out of the blue (I have zero attraction to him) but because I was drunk I don't know how long it took for me to stop it, I know I definitely did stop it and told him to give it over that he's married. My friend caught up with us, we went for food and all got a taxi home dropping the married coworker off first. I told my friend what happened and the next day I felt quite annoyed about it but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was drunk so was obviously a mistake.
3 weeks go by and I'm still seeing my other coworker although we're still not exclusive and still mainly sleeping with each other. However we both talk about how we've developed feelings for eachother and it feels like it's getting more serious so I decide it's best to be honest and tell them what happened with our married coworker as I believe relationships should be built on honesty and trust and would hate if it came out down the line. Big mistake though as he couldn't understand how someone could kiss me without me putting myself in a position to be kissed and he has ended things. He's being quite cold towards me and now my anxiety over the whole situation is eating me alive. The not being believed or being made feel like I did something wrong hurts so much.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 😔

OP posts:
materialgworl · 21/08/2025 14:29

His reaction is valid to him even if it upsets you. The way you started off with him (work night out) might have influenced him since circumstances are slightly similar with recent (unsolicited and improper) event.

telling someone something in honesty doesn’t automatically mean they’ll affirm you. not much you can do

DancingNotDrowning · 21/08/2025 14:32

He’s a dick.

there’s nothing attractive about a man who thinks all women are “asking for it”!

you’re honestly better off without a man who can’t fathom that women get endless amounts of unwanted unsolicited attention

ForTipsyFinch · 21/08/2025 14:36

If a casual person who you aren’t actually in a relationship with can cause you such anxiety is it really worth it?

BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:42

Yeah I understand it might look similar circumstances but the night I met the coworker I was seeing we were in contact beforehand being quite flirty and there was an obvious attraction but there was none of that with my married coworker at all and I think I just expected a certain level of understanding 😔

OP posts:
BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:44

I completely agree I was kinda shocked when he suggested that someone couldn't just kiss someone without them wanting it or putting themselves in a vulnerable position

OP posts:
BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:45

ForTipsyFinch · 21/08/2025 14:36

If a casual person who you aren’t actually in a relationship with can cause you such anxiety is it really worth it?

I'm definitely thinking I dodged a bullet now but very anxious about how it'll all play out when I see them in work. How should I act as I don't want to get upset

OP posts:
BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:47

The person I was seeing also has their own situation which i would've been very empathetic and understanding of such as an ex who stayed over but in separate beds

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 14:48

Your married coworker sexually assaulted you when you had been drinking and were more vulnerable and the coworker you were dating broke up with you over that?

Well fuck him for coming from the land of the misogynist dinosaurs for blaming you for being sexually assaulted.

Throw this one back. I don't date coworkers because drama, but fuck both these assholes.

BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:51

outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 14:48

Your married coworker sexually assaulted you when you had been drinking and were more vulnerable and the coworker you were dating broke up with you over that?

Well fuck him for coming from the land of the misogynist dinosaurs for blaming you for being sexually assaulted.

Throw this one back. I don't date coworkers because drama, but fuck both these assholes.

I keep replaying it in my head, I was drunk and I know I definitely stopped it and told him to stop but he's well liked in my work place so I know no-one would believe me if it all came out. I feel like shit thinking did I reciprocate for a few seconds or did I do something to lead him on, there's an age gap of about 15years or more and now I wish I hadn't opened my mouth to anyone

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 14:58

It isn't you, it's them. You did not lead married dude on. You thought you were safe with him because married and your friend along. There was zero consent from you. He saw a drunk woman, who was involved with someone else by the way, and thought he could get away with what he did.

Your work culture protects misogynists and predatory men who sexually assault women.

Don't feel guilty.

Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk · 21/08/2025 15:02

BisCut · 21/08/2025 14:44

I completely agree I was kinda shocked when he suggested that someone couldn't just kiss someone without them wanting it or putting themselves in a vulnerable position

He has no idea about the experiences of women then! This is a common thing to happen. Men can take innocent friendliness for a green light to make a pass.

BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:03

outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 14:58

It isn't you, it's them. You did not lead married dude on. You thought you were safe with him because married and your friend along. There was zero consent from you. He saw a drunk woman, who was involved with someone else by the way, and thought he could get away with what he did.

Your work culture protects misogynists and predatory men who sexually assault women.

Don't feel guilty.

Thank you, I hope I can move past this with my head held high but at the moment I'm really struggling with it

OP posts:
BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:05

After I told the coworker that I was seeing what happened he dropped me home and was holding my hand, kissing me before I got out of his car but when we spoke the next morning he said I ended things the night before when I told him what I told him

OP posts:
Thisistyresome · 21/08/2025 15:12

Perhaps you would get a more useful response if you had posted this as a reversed the genders and expressed it from his point of view.

If you were to relay the story that he had told you a well liked woman you both worked with had kissed him and he didn’t know how long it took him to stop it I suspect the interpretation would look quite different.

If you were starting to discuss how you were developing feeling for each other then he is likely to be hurt by that situation and will have to consider how he interprets the situation and if that indicates there is more pain to come. You don’t really know where he is in reacting to it and sounds like you don’t know him well enough to know if there are reasons he may react particular ways to any circumstance.

It sounds like there isn’t much you can do, though generally the colleagues thing is always risky.

The married co-worker is one to avoid in future if that is how he behaves but that doesn’t really help your current situation.

BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:18

Thisistyresome · 21/08/2025 15:12

Perhaps you would get a more useful response if you had posted this as a reversed the genders and expressed it from his point of view.

If you were to relay the story that he had told you a well liked woman you both worked with had kissed him and he didn’t know how long it took him to stop it I suspect the interpretation would look quite different.

If you were starting to discuss how you were developing feeling for each other then he is likely to be hurt by that situation and will have to consider how he interprets the situation and if that indicates there is more pain to come. You don’t really know where he is in reacting to it and sounds like you don’t know him well enough to know if there are reasons he may react particular ways to any circumstance.

It sounds like there isn’t much you can do, though generally the colleagues thing is always risky.

The married co-worker is one to avoid in future if that is how he behaves but that doesn’t really help your current situation.

I understand what you're saying but I consider myself to quite an understanding person and would nearly always give the benefit of doubt to someone especially if they were being honest about something they could have kept hidden. I'd be thinking we'll if they're lying why would they tell me.
The man I was seeing has his own issues with an ex that he had been seeing and one evening she stayed over in his home but as he was open and honest with me and told me they stayed in seperate rooms I just believed him, obviously if it happened again I might be a bit more upset but I'm a big believer in if I don't have any solid proof then why get upset over it and also because we weren't in a relationship

OP posts:
ginasevern · 21/08/2025 15:30

I expect your "boyfriend" shagged his ex who was sleeping over and now he's deflecting the guilt on to you. That's what men do. So if it ever comes out he can say "well you were at it too".

BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:33

ginasevern · 21/08/2025 15:30

I expect your "boyfriend" shagged his ex who was sleeping over and now he's deflecting the guilt on to you. That's what men do. So if it ever comes out he can say "well you were at it too".

A few people have said that to me but I honestly don't think he did. Maybe I'm too gullible for all this dating/ seeing people craic

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 21/08/2025 15:36

The guy kissed you and you pulled away. You didn't consent. He launched himself at you without any warning pretty much.

I would have phrased it as 'Derek tried to kiss me'. As an actual kiss needs to be consensual?

Your bloke should be saying what an arse that guy is. Not blaming you and dumping you. Are you sure he didn't think you were exclusive? But even if you were, the kiss was unwanted to can't be described as cheating. It's closer to SA.

So he doesn't deserve you.

BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:40

DiscoBob · 21/08/2025 15:36

The guy kissed you and you pulled away. You didn't consent. He launched himself at you without any warning pretty much.

I would have phrased it as 'Derek tried to kiss me'. As an actual kiss needs to be consensual?

Your bloke should be saying what an arse that guy is. Not blaming you and dumping you. Are you sure he didn't think you were exclusive? But even if you were, the kiss was unwanted to can't be described as cheating. It's closer to SA.

So he doesn't deserve you.

Edited

Thank you yes I probably should have phrased it as he tried to kiss me. No he definitely knew we weren't exclusive as he had told me that he couldn't commit fully to me because of everything he has going on and I was happy to take it slowly but because we had then said we were both developing feelings for eachother I decided to tell him as I wanted to be honest with him

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 21/08/2025 15:43

BisCut · 21/08/2025 15:40

Thank you yes I probably should have phrased it as he tried to kiss me. No he definitely knew we weren't exclusive as he had told me that he couldn't commit fully to me because of everything he has going on and I was happy to take it slowly but because we had then said we were both developing feelings for eachother I decided to tell him as I wanted to be honest with him

He's an idiot then. It will be a little awkward for a bit at work but it'll blow over. Maybe don't date people at work, at least for a while...

outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 15:45

"The man I was seeing has his own issues with an ex that he had been seeing and one evening she stayed over in his home "

I'm sorry, but now it's clear why he blamed you and broke up with you. It's classic cheater deflection and he cheated on you with his ex ex.

BisCut · 21/08/2025 16:03

outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 15:45

"The man I was seeing has his own issues with an ex that he had been seeing and one evening she stayed over in his home "

I'm sorry, but now it's clear why he blamed you and broke up with you. It's classic cheater deflection and he cheated on you with his ex ex.

Thats probably it 😔

OP posts:
ForFlakyPeer · 19/09/2025 18:40

I can completely understand how he feels—if I were in his position, I’d probably feel the same. The way you’ve described things makes it easy for him to doubt your intentions. Saying you were drunk and don’t know how long the kiss went on raises suspicions—it can look like you were, at least in the moment, okay with it. That’s why it seems mutual to him, not just a one-sided mistake

The way the night played out also adds to the suspicion. From the outside, it almost looks like your friend deliberately lagged behind and left you and the married coworker alone, as if to give you two a private moment. That gives the impression of attraction or consent, like you were given space for a private moment.

That makes it harder for others to believe it was entirely unwanted. Then afterward, you all continued the evening with food and a taxi. Most people—including police, if it were ever reported—would see that as inconsistent with being blindsided.

If the allegations were true,

Your coworkers aren't responsible people.
Your coworkers also didn’t have your best interest at heart. If you were that drunk, they should have made sure you went home early. Instead, they let the night carry on in a way that left you vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the man you’re interested in has his own questionable behavior—admitting to “platonic sleepovers” with an ex. (You may already know that he's involved in a relationship and are okay with it) if the roles were reversed, you wouldn’t accept that, so it makes sense he can’t accept your version of events either.

For your own stability, I’d recommend leaving this job, cutting off all coworkers permanently, and never mixing work with friendships or romance again. It creates unnecessary drama, risks your reputation, and can jeopardize your livelihood.

The biggest issue is drinking. If you’re blacking out or losing track of events, that’s not just bad luck—it’s a problem that needs attention. Therapy could help you process both your grief and your choices, and cutting out alcohol could save you from repeating this. For now, focus on healing yourself first.

Mumlaplomb · 19/09/2025 18:50

Both men sound awful OP and are to be avoided. One took advantage of you without consent and the other sounds a calllous tool.

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