04 Feb Workplace Romance
When it comes to workplace romance, and with all due respect to Lord Alfred Tennyson, it may not be better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now is as good a time as any for employers to consider implementing a policy in an attempt to manage co-workers dating and the potential ramifications. These ramifications can include charges of harassment, favoritism and the possibility of unprofessional behavior in the workplace, particularly in the case of supervisor/subordinate romance.
It should be noted that there is a significant distinction between managing and prohibiting, with the latter difficult to enforce as it may be subject to claims of invasion of privacy, especially if it is perceived that the employer is attempting to regulate an employee’s behavior and actions outside of the office.
When considered a dating policy, employers need to be aware of some of the challenges they may encounter. A policy that requires the resignation, transfer, or termination of an employee when two employees are dating may be found to be discriminatory.
Employers should also conduct regular sexual harassment training sessions for supervisors and employees and include as a part of the curriculum a discussion on the problems that can surround office romances, especially those between a supervisor and a subordinate.
For more information on this subject, contact Prestige or check out the following articles:
Understanding and Mitigating Liability for Workplace Romances
http://www.mintz.com/news-events/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/1493/understanding-and-mitigating-liability-for-workplace-romances
Supervisor-Subordinate Relationships: Never A Good Idea
http://www.laborlawyers.com/showarticle.aspx?Supervisor-Subordinate-Relationships-Never-A-Good-Idea&Ref=list&Type=1119&Cat=3386&Show=15412
Make Way For Love Contracts in the Workplace
https://www.aseonline.org/ArticleDetailsPage/tabid/7442/ArticleID/312/Make-Way-For-Love-Contracts-in-the-Workplace.aspx
Romance in the Workplace: You, Me and our Employer?
http://www.nexsenpruet.com/publications-623.html
Office Romance Policies Can Reduce Risk
http://www.workforce.com/article/20120821/NEWS02/120829984/office-romance-policies-can-reduce-risk
A Valentine’s Day bouquet of sexual harassment cases
http://www.employmentandlaborinsider.com/harassment/ah-february-the-month-of/
Love and Payroll: Employers Face Tricky Issues With Workplace Romances
http://cclawyer.cccba.org/2012/02/sex-love-and-payroll-employers-face-tricky-issues-with-workplace-romances/