How to Deal With Office Romance
July 12, 2008
WHAT IS OFFICE ROMANCE AND WHY
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IT?
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OFFICE ROMANCE?(contd)
BENEFITS OF OFFICE ROMANCE
For the employer, romance at work is bad for corporate health and
can create a number of problems, such as:
– Conflict of interest;
– Breach of confidentiality;
– Scope of favoritism;
– Risk of sexual harassment cases;
– Unhealthy corporate environment;
– Low employee morale
HAZARDS OF OFFICE ROMANCE (contd)
HAZARDS OF OFFICE ROMANCE (contd)
WESTERN POLICIES ON OFFICE ROMANCE
OPTION 1: ADOPT ANTI-NEPOTISM / NON-FRATERNIZATION POLICIES:
– Prohibits/strongly discourages employees from pursuing a romantic relationship with colleagues;
– Are incorporated in compliance with the law of the land;
– Are limited to supervisor-subordinate relationships/ relationships having direct conflict of interest;
– Also explains the consequences for violation, such as reassignment/transfer at the employer’s option/involuntary resignation;
– Of course, employers must be careful not to intrude on their employees’ private lives without justification, while implementing such policies
OPTION 2: REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO EXECUTE “LOVE CONTRACTS”:
• A “love contract” is an agreement signed by employees involved in a romantic relationship in which the employees agree to:
– Behave professionally in the workplace;
– Acknowledge the relationship is consensual;
– Establishes that the relationship is “welcome between the concerned employees,” at least when the contract is signed;
– It helps defeat an argument that one party was “forced” to be involved in a relationship (e.g. to obtain a promotion);
– However, requiring employees to announce a romance in writing may involve fundamental right to privacy issues
WESTERN POLICIES ON OFFICE ROMANCE (contd)
BANGLADESHI GUIDELINES ON OFFICE ROMANCE
HR PROCESSES ON OFFICE ROMANCE
As a process to ensure proper dealing of Office Romances and reduce potential liability in this area, various steps are normally taken by the Employer :
– First, all employees are oriented to avoid workplace romances and how to discreetly address overt sexual behavior at work;
– Employees are explained the need to immediately report any inappropriate behavior they have experienced to Human Resources/Personnel/EEO Office, etc.;
– The related HR Policy/Non-Fraternization Policy is shared with the incoming employees at their Induction Programs and it is well publicized and enforced;
– It states a clear guideline of the organization’s procedure for investigating and settling complaints of Office Affairs;
– Finally, employers have to be willing to take action against employees who violate their related HR Policy, regardless of the employee’s seniority or influence.
MAINTAINING A BALANCE
MAINTAINING A BALANCE (contd)
– In the American Red Cross scandal, Mark Everson, the organization’s president, was forced to resign on Nov 27, 2007;
– Because he had an inappropriate relationship with a female staff;
– Everson, aged 53, was a man with a checkered career and married with two grown children;
– The Red Cross board of directors asked for his resignation after learning of the relationship 10 days ago;
– “I am resigning from my position for personal and family reasons and deeply regret it is impossible for me to continue in a job so recently undertaken.” Everson
– In an unusually candid news release, the Red Cross said its board “concluded that the situation reflected poor judgment on Mr. Everson’s part and diminished his ability to lead the organization in the future.”
– Bill Clinton, the famous American President, who put the American economy on a sound foundation, with peace and prosperity all round, faced impeachment proceedings;
– Because it was thought he lied under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, the White House Intern;
– Clinton suffered the shame and although he successfully avoided impeachment, he himself admitted later, being the President the romance was a mistake
LEARNING
CONCLUSION: FOR THE FUTURE HR PROFESSIONALS
CONCLUSION: FOR THE FUTURE CORPORATE PROFESSIONALS