14 February 2007
Most employees unaware of office romance rules
Survey shows majority of workers don't know their company's policy on workplace relationships.
Only 16% of US workers are aware of their company's policy regarding workplace liaisons, according to a survey by career research firm, Vault.com.
The "2007 Office Romance Survey" study shows most company employees either don't know if their firm has a liaisons policy, or believe it doesn't have one.
Make it clear to staff what you expect from them at the outset, to save your business and employees from potential hassle.
Lack of policy awareness
Making staff aware of policy on office romances is important in ensuring they don’t affect the workplace environment, according to Peter-Jon Chalmers, a director at human resources consultancy, Empire HR.
"Employers should understand why affairs happen and how to deal with any issues that arise," says Chalmers. "If you make it clear to staff what you expect from them at the outset, you can save your business and employees from potential hassle."
Good conduct required
Other figures from the Vault.com report suggest employees who do start relationships need to be careful about their conduct, with 58% of managers surveyed saying they'll interfere in a staff liaison if it affected the rest of the office.
"Staff should understand that private relationships need to be left at the door during office hours," Chalmers advises. "Managers should remind workers that when they're at work, they should treat partners as colleagues and equals. This is for their own benefit; to ensure that they don't leave themselves open to accusations of favouritism or unethical behavior."
"Staff should also be made aware that supervisor/subordinate should be discouraged for the same reasons," Chalmers says. "Even though the two employees may conduct themnselves with utmost integrity, it's still difficult to persuade other colleagues from having a different perception of events."
Love at work
The 2007 Office Romance Survey also shows that 47% of employees admit to having a workplace relationship at one time or another, something Chalmers puts down to the longer working hours.
Recent research suggests that office romances can actually increase productivity, rather than diminish it.
"An increased demand on workers' time means that they have less opportunity to socialize externally, and it also means they tend to do so with each other instead," Chalmers says.
Romance is good
The increase in workplace affairs may not be an entirely bad thing, however. "Recent research from the UK's University of Westminster suggests that office romances can actually increase productivity, rather than diminish it," Chalmers says. "Although there may be a short initial 'bedding-in' period, performance levels are likely to increase because they're happier."
Got a news story? Contact the newsdesk