Can an Employer Prohibit Employees from Dating One Another?
The exchange of ideas, shared creativity and the teamwork approach fostered in entrepreneur-based enterprises also promote closer connections and lasting relationships — sometimes romantic ones. More than one-third of all employees meet their future partners while on the job, and for many, dating officemates is part of a balanced work life. Office romances aren't a business liability as long as there are policies and procedures in place to ensure that employees' personal lives remain personal and their work professional. The company should also have a policy regarding sexual harassment.
In this Quick-Read you will learn: The pros and cons associated with workplace romances. Strategies for managing in-office relationships. Factors that identify sexual harassment. A rule forbidding fraternization of co-workers is deemed by most to be invasive, inappropriate and unnecessary. Worry not about curtailing the office romance but about maintaining office professionalism and productivity. Recognize that romantic relationships between staff members may have a negative impact on job performance. The exclusive nature of a romantic relationship, if recognized, can threaten the involvement of other team members and lead to claims of favoritism or discrimination.
Personal problems between the couple can cause strain and difficulties with on-the-job communication, or lead to claims of stalking or harassment.
A public break-up could cause other employees to "choose sides," creating tension for the whole office. Avoid these problems by focusing on employee job performance. With the help of a lawyer and your human resources team, establish some workplace guidelines that specifically define what will happen if performance standards are not met and state how claims of sexual harassment are handled. Make sure all your employees are aware of these policies.
HR Policies & Procedures
Here are some strategies for managing romantic relationships in the office: Establish a rule that prohibits an employee from supervising a person they are dating. Encourage everyone to disclose romantic relationships that fall into this category so adjustments can be made to avoid the related risks. Perhaps a change could be made in the reporting or organizational structure.
List any jobs where romantic relationships could jeopardize the safety or integrity of other staff members and make the involved employees aware of those potential risks.
For example, a human resource manager dating a department head could be perceived by others as a potential breach of confidentiality. Talk to employees about job expectations and consequences if performance falters for any reason.
Dealing With Personal Relationships at Work: Dating at Work
Focus on creating a positive office environment for all employees. This includes developing an atmosphere of trust and respecting the private lives of employees. Encourage them to live balanced lives. Make it clear to employees that personal lives should be orchestrated outside of the workplace.
Flirting or romantic overtures should not happen at work.
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Communicate your concerns to employees when their personal actions cause professional problems or questions. Allowing the romantic behavior in the office to persist causes strain, tension and discomfort for other employees. It can also lead to complaints of favoritism and discrimination. Foster communication with your employees without judgment. Don't pry or question unless you notice performance problems. In many cases, disclosure of their dating relationship can help you create a more productive workplace while minimizing any conflict of interest. Keep in mind that office romances are not limited to coworkers.
Your employees may also be dating your clients, vendors or even employees of your competitor.
Subordinates
Make sure your office dating policy anticipates these situations — an acrimonious split between an employee and a supplier, for example, could result in late shipments, production delays or other problems for the whole company. Avoiding sexual harassment Flirtation becomes sexual harassment when employee A refuses employee B's invitations or advances and B persists by asking A out again.
Likewise, she found that employees who observe more sexual behavior at work have lower job satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the share of couples who first connected online has soared. After all, there are workplace romance success stories. In addition to every day examples you probably know of at least one yourself there are high-profile ones. Bill and Melinda Gates, for instance, met when they both worked at Microsoft.
And, in her view, efforts to prohibit all such behavior in the office would end up penalizing women or individuals with non-normative sexuality. The underlying message of top management must be that their workplace is one of civility where employees get by on merits, says Baker.
Is it where employees feel respected? By Claire Zillman July 18,