My Work Wife

Executive Summary:  Signs and benefits of a work spouse; Funny stories about the work wife.

Signs I Have a Work Wife

As I write this, I am on Maui with my work wife.  We had to fly here for a meeting.  I first heard of the term “work wife” while I was in college, but haven’t really heard nor used the term much until recently.  Earlier this week, CNN ran a story about the seven signs you might have a work spouse:

1. You depend on a particular co-worker for office supplies, snacks and aspirin.  Yes, my work wife does.
2. There are inside jokes that you and a specific co-worker share.  Yes, we do.
3. You can be bluntly honest with this person about his or her appearance, hygiene or hair (and vice versa). You’re comfortable enough to point out that the other’s hair is sticking up — or that someone’s fly is down.  Yes, both ways.
4. When something eventful happens at work, this co-worker is the first person you seek out for a de-briefing.  De-brief?  Are you kidding me, we give each other the play-by-play as it happens!
5. At breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks, your closest co-worker knows what to order for you and how you like your coffee (and vice versa).  I don’t like coffee, she doesn’t like chocolate – we both know that.
6. You and your co-worker can finish each other’s sentences.  Not all the time, but sometimes.
7. Someone in your office knows almost as much about your personal life as your best friend or real-life spouse does.  I know more about her than she does about me, but yes.

Here are a few more things that weren’t on the list:

• We eat meals and snacks together, regularly, but not all the time.
• We travel together – for work – in separate lodging, of course.
• We coordinate outfits when we go to presentations and other out-of-office events.

And it’s a good dynamic we have going.  Says CNN:

Work spouses often complement each other in terms of skills, abilities and their approaches to work. The two of you can make a very productive team.

I’ve known my work wife for 11 years, having met each other in high school.  We’ve only worked together for a year, but are definitely a dynamic duo.  She even has some resemblance to my fiancee – but not as pretty.  Sorry, but you knew I was going to choose the wife-to-be over the work wife, right?

A Funny Thing Happened With My Work Wife

Actually, their similar looks have resulted in two stories:

• Once, when I was in Hilo, a good family friend saw me, but didn’t say hi and I also didn’t see him.  A few weeks later, he saw me and asked if I was in Hilo.  He and his wife did see me, but as they approached, they realized I wasn’t with my fiancee.  Not wanting to make any trouble, he decided he wouldn’t say anything, in case there was a story there.
• On another trip to Hilo, at the SIg Zane store, one of the long-time employees approached my work wife and was going on and on about how much they’d heard about her and how they were glad to see her in the flesh, finally.  I had to explain that this wasn’t my fiancee, but my co-worker.  I had shown them pictures of my fiancee over the years of patronizing the shop, so even they saw the resemblance.

So to my work wife, thanks for the laughs and gossip, but you totally owe me for going to Hana with you!  And to my fiancee, thank you for being so patient, supportive, and understanding.  I know it’s the second work trip here without you, but we’ll get to Hana one day.

Mahalo!

Update:  I forgot to mention and the fiancee told me I should clarify that she and the work wife are friends.  So rid your mind of those scandalous thoughts!

Tagged as: hana, sig zane, work spouse, work wife