I'm not working yet. Still studying. Would like to know if it is forbidden for you (male) to have intimate relationship with your boss (female) or co-workers?

How could this affect your carreer?

I think this thread would be important for those who have not work yet.

It depends on companies, some explicitly prohibit relationships between colleagues, some dont. As for affecting your career its just down to how each individual or couple handle it I guess. Some people can remain professional, some cannot.

Just make sure you don't perform intimate relationship at the office...

A well-established company would have very clear guidelines regarding this, and most of the time they do not encourage it. The human emotion is a very complex and unpredictable subject and though one may say that they are able to remain professional, you cannot guarantee that you are able to that all the time.

It also has to do with conflict of interests between you and the company. For example if you are having a relationship with your boss/subordinate, there is always a possibility for you to be biased during the review, making it unfair for other employees and your judgement might not be in the best interest for the company.

And also, you have to manage the perception of other people towards this issue, though you may proclaim that you are able to remain professional, there is no clear cut that you are being so, esp to other employees. You will not be able to prove yourself in this situation.

Office relationships are taken quite seriously in most established companies, employees have the responsibility of informing the management about this so that the management can make the necessary work arrangments such that there will not be any conflicts of interest and misinterpretation from other employees. Usually couples will be placed in different depts or projects and not having one reporting to another (that might influence one's decision) so address this problem.

Last but not least, disciplinary action up to termination can be taken if employees are known to have violated the rules of office relationships.