Dear Amy: I am a young man and have been sleeping with one of my older, married supervisors outside of work for the past few months.
Recently the relationship has moved inside the workplace. She surprises me in my office and forces herself on me.
I am a young professional and can’t afford to lose my job.
The affair outside of work was great; I am a single man with no hang-ups, but if the affair continues at work I am going to have to end it. How can I stop it from happening at work, or just happening in general, without insulting my supervisor to the point that I get fired? Am I already in over my head? Should I just keep the relationship going and hope that I won’t lose my job? — Eager Cougar Chaser
Dear Eager: You are in a jam very much of your own creation.
But if this relationship is no longer consensual, then you should break it off quickly and completely by saying, “I can’t be in this relationship any longer.”
There should be no sexual or personal contact with her in or outside the office.
Save any communication from her, and if she retaliates by using her professional position to intimidate or punish you, then you should take the whole mess to HR and hope that they take pity on you.
Meantime, you need to look for another job, clean up your act and confine your cougar chasing to outside your workplace.
Dear Amy: I’m following the discussion in your column about people who “save” parking spaces. How is saving a parking space different from saving a seat at the movies or standing in line? — Bruce in Maryland
Dear Bruce: The main difference between saving a parking spot and saving a seat at the movie theater is that the people required to give their consent to the transaction are driving large vehicles. In a parking lot, it’s human vs. car, and in that matchup, the car usually wins.
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