Temp Head
Thursday February 14 2008
Let's do lunch Thursday February 14 2008…
With employees working longer hours than ever, the window of opportunity to make new friends or form new relationships is shrinking. But there's always lunchtime Barbara Harding By 6pm today, many employees will be either clutching a bouquet of roses, rushing off to buy whatever's left in the florist, pretending not to care or morbidly depressed that not a single stem came their way.Valentine's Day can be tough to ignore at work, what with all the cards, phonecalls, emails and deliveries passing to and fro. But fret not; if cupid's arrow missed while you sat at your desk (or equivalent) today and you're sick of having no life at night, why not jazz up your social status during lunch instead? Anne-Marie Cussen, director of It's Just Lunch, a dating agency for professionals in Ireland, says: "Working long hours doesn't allow people the chance to get out and meet others, so dating during lunch is proving very popular." And she should know; her company has arranged more than 4,000 early-afternoon dates for employees in Ireland over the past two years. "There are over two million single adults in Ireland who are presently seeking fun or commitment," she says. Therefore there are plenty more fish in the sea so to speak, even if there might be some rogue sharks lurking among them. So why not let specialised dating agencies for busy employees help, especially when it comes to the intricacies of the vetting process?Everyone has their own idea of what characteristics are most important in a potential suitor. They may be looks, job description or - heaven forbid - salary scale. Cussen explains: "People come in looking for certain things such as a great sense of humour, someone they can click with or a combination of chemistry and personality. Height and eye colour seem to factor also. Many candidates prefer to date people from different professions to avoid 'talking shop', while others don't mind this at all." So how does the process work? "We interview clients for an hour and find out what they are looking for, their interests, hobbies and whether they seek fun, a relationship or marriage etc. They must also bring a passport or driving licence as proof of identity," she says.One defining similarity between her clients is they're all busy professionals who have little time at night to socialise. "What we offer on first dates is an alternative to meeting people in nightclubs and pubs. We do all the work for you; we arrange the date, book the table at the restaurant using first names only and tell each person a little about the other. All they have to do is go ahead and have fun."The company also takes into consideration the impact shift work has on finding a partner, so it organises brunch dates at weekends too. This also caters for those who like to put extra effort into their appearance on such outings. But during the week, arriving in a suit or uniform is taken as a given."Some people like the fact that they arrive in a suit as there's no pressure in terms of wondering what to wear. Besides, adults should be able to get past this."When the date is finally arranged, Cussen says employees should avoid topics such as politics, previous relationships or religion when making casual chit chat. "Be open, have fun, relax and enjoy their company," she says. "If people get on really well, they are free to exchange numbers and if the courtship looks promising, we can always put their account on hold."But how safe is it meeting complete strangers for lunch? Cussen says her company has partnered with a number of restaurants where the owners are aware a blind date is taking place. "All they have to do is show up, give their names to the ma”tre d' and they will be shown to their table. Dates always take place in busy public settings; it's not like you are meeting in an alleyway, so it's very safe."And in a time when equality and the battle of the sexes reigns, who is expected to pay the bill? "We recommend they split the bill, but if the men want to pay for it they can," she says.To date, the feedback on all matches has been very positive, but no couple is planning nuptials just yet. However, it's still early days. "There are strong relationships forming, so we have bets on a few of those," says Cussen.www.itsjustlunch.com(c) Whitespace Ltd 2008All content copyright 2008, Whitespace Publishing Agency - all rights reservedEmail: jobs&careers@whitespace.ie-
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