Love Conquers All

Love conquers all, except disparities in workplace power dynamics. But in a recent survey concerning workplace romances, 39 percent of respondents admitted to dating a co-worker at least once. Seventy percent of those relationships fizzled before marriage. Critically, 29 percent of survey respondents admitted to having dated someone above him or her in the company’s chain of command, and 35 percent of those kept their romance a secret. It is those hidden affairs that represent the gravest threat of litigation, especially when they involve a superior and a subordinate. The unequal distribution of power creates the potential for sexual harassment claims. The longer such relationships carry on without company knowledge, the more exposure the company may face.

Companies should seek outside expertise when particularly risky co-worker couplings are first revealed – for example, relationships with disparity in the workplace power dynamics between the parties or relative to the legal department. Sticking the company’s collective head in the sand is a poor option. If improper conduct has occurred, the investigator needs to advise the company how to mitigate damage, with respect to both legal liability and employee morale. That may include disciplining employees or implementing revised policies, as well as figuring out how to explain those actions to the workforce and the market at large. Relevant promotion decisions and employment conditions will need to be re-examined.

The long-term benefits of implementing corrective measures far outweigh any short-term awkwardness due to the investigation.