What’s love got to do with it, anyway!?
Did you know…
- 59% of workers have participated in an office romance; 19% have dated their supervisor.
- 41% has an on-going but casual relationship with a co-worker.
- 35% have had a “random hook up” with a co-worker.
- 30% have had a long term relationship with a coworker.
- 27% stated that the office romance effected their personal and professional relationships.
- 64% workers state they would participate in an office romance again.
- 32% employees admit to having a “tryst” in places like the boss’s office, a warehouse, closet, bathroom or the break room.
- 6% admit to being caught in the midst of the “tryst”.
- Only 9% of employers prohibit office dating; 70% do not have a formal policy regarding dating in the workplace.
Office romances are common but if handled badly they can lead to a harassment case. Consider LOVE CONTRACTS!
Love Contracts or Consensual agreements can protect the employer and should include the following:
- Both “work place lovers” who are involved romantically, must sign and acknowledge that the relationship is consensual.
- The contract should direct the “workplace lovers” to notify the company if the relationship ends.
- Managements should confirm that the “work place lovers” are truly a consensual relationship and confirm it in separate discussions with each “workplace lover”. Advise them each individually of the company’s sexual harassment and other related policies.
- The love contract should also stress the importance of professionalism in the workplace and all work related activities.
- Advise the “workplace lovers” that any favoritism towards each other could be a violation of your policies and would be considered a conflict of interest.
- Advise the “workplace lovers” that their personal “love” problems will not be addressed by any company management. The “workplace lovers” should understand that the company monitors all e-mail correspondence and they should not engage in “love notes” that take time away from company business.
- If the “workplace lovers” are in a manager subordinate relationship, transfer one of them to another position and include that in the Love Contract.
Sources:
1) Love Contracts Get the Double Take, Barbara Reeves Neal, SHRM
2) Love is in the Air- Evaluating Office Romance Policies, Ron Chapman, JR. & Denise C. Villani, The Employment Law Authority
3) Vault.com Workplace Office Romance Survey.
