Relationships in the Workplace Are Often Positive

Relationships in the workplace are often positive in nature and allow for employees to enjoy their work experience. It is not uncommon for life-long friendships, romances, or even marriages to be born out of the relationships of coworkers. However, these same relationships can also create a very uncomfortable work environment.

Perhaps the most controversial workplace relationship is the office romance. Detrimental effects of these types of relationships range from sexual harassment suits to retaliatory actions after the breakup to jealousy from coworkers who believe that a person has climbed the corporate ladder by "sleeping his or her way to the top." (Nations Business, Pg 1)

The Society of Human Resource Management surveyed six hundred human resource professionals in 1998. This poll concluded that thirteen percent of employers had a written policy on workplace romance. Fourteen percent claimed that they had a "clear understanding" of expected behaviors even though there was no formal written policy. And the majority, seventy-two percent, had no policy whatsoever. Among those companies that do have a policy, fifty-five percent permit workplace romances but discourage the act. Thirty-two percent do not have restrictions on romance, and seven percent claimed that romance among colleagues is not permitted. (Olian, Pg 1)

Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed expressed fear over the possibility of a sexual harassment claim. Seventy-five percent feared retaliatory actions between parties after the romance is over. And sixty percent were concerned about the morale of coworkers. Other concerns included the fear of lower productivity in the workplace and a feeling of unprofessionalism in an office. (Olian, Pg 1)

As women now constitute forty-six percent of the American workforce, office romances and dating is a fact of life. As the preceding survey results indicate, some offices have gone so far as to completely ban this type of interaction. The problem with this knee-jerk type of reaction is that it tends to push office relationships underground. Coworkers will still get involved with one another and everyone will know about it except management. (Your Office or Mine, Pg 1)

In a recent survey of Canadians conducted by Workopolis.com, sixty-three percent of the respondents indicated that they had a workplace romance in the past. However, only fifty-seven percent said that they felt workplace romances were acceptable. (Your Office or Mine, Pg 1)

There are three contributing factors that might lead to problems in the workplace. The first is the possibility of a sexual harassment suit, the second is retaliatory actions and the third is jealousy of other workers.

After a breakup in a small office environment, the possibility of a sexual harassment suit stemming from the romance is an unfortunate reality. An uncomfortable environment for the office staff or even worse, retaliatory actions between the parties can be detrimental to all in the workplace. (Mann, Pg 2)

Employees feeling as if their coworker has an unfair advantage because of their sexual relationship with upper management is common in this situation. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace, but it might also be interpreted from a sex discrimination point-of-view.

The regulations implementing Title VII recongnize that a cause of action for discrimination against third parties may arise from romantic relationships in the workplace: "Where employment opportunities or benefits are granted because of an individual's submission to the employer's sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, the employer may be held liable for unlawful sex discrimination against other persons who were qualified for but denied that employment opportunity or benefit." This federal regulation has been used as a basis for claims of sexual favoritism in the workplace under Title VII. (Mann, Pg 1)

Indeed the workplace romance and the repercussions of such a romance may be problematic. However one might be able to regulate this type of workplace romance with a series of policies and rules which would allow management to know what is going on and to take appropriate steps to take those involved in the romance out of a situation (such as direct manager of an employee) and to place them into a department or situation which will not have an adverse effect on the office as a whole. (McIntyre, Pg 3)

As workplace romance has quite a bit of research and statistics surrounding it, issues of nepotism and close friendship between coworkers simply has not seen such extensive research. Though a few things might be inferred from these relationships which were previously mentioned concerning workplace romance.

It is clear that friendships and nepotism work much like a romance as far as office jealousy and a feeling of unfairness in the workplace is concerned. If the manager's best friend or nephew is provided with the best assignments or moves up the corporate ladder quickly because of his or her relationship, the atmosphere in the office will suffer. Indeed productivity may suffer if this type of situation presents itself on a regular basis.