Employee dating policies

Our Fraternization policy outlines our guidelines on employees forming personal relationships with each other. But, without rules and guidelines, romantic relationships between colleagues may negatively impact our workplace. This policy will set restrictions to maintain workplace conduct and order. Friendships forming between employees are also included in this policy. Friendships allow for a more collaborative environment, but they might also occasionally create cliques and fragmentation inside departments. This policy does not restrict participating in labor unions or other labor or civil rights organizations.

Should you date a coworker? If you still want to move forward, research shows that your intentions matter. Many companies prohibit employees from dating coworkers, vendors, customers, or suppliers, or require specific disclosures, so be sure to investigate before you start a relationship. Lots of people meet their partners at work , and yet dating someone in the office is often frowned upon. Some companies even have explicit policies against it.

In a proactive attempt to combat the issue of workplace sexual harassment, Facebook and Google have implemented new policies on dating in the workplace. If the co-worker rejects their offer, that employee is not allowed to ask again. Like Facebook and Google, most employers have recognised that workplaces are often environments in which their employees will develop personal friendships with each other, and some will enter into relationships that are more than that. This does however create difficulty for employers who have significant obligations to ensure that the health and safety of their employees is not put at risk in the workplace and that such relationships do not result in conflicts of interest.

Workplace romances happen often, and having a policy in place to help guide the process makes the situation manageable for everyone involved. A study in from CareerBuilder revealed that 41 percent of professionals have dated a coworker and that 30 percent of office romances have led to marriage. Office relationships can seem harmless at first, but when the two lovers start showing favoritism, or if the situation involves a manager dating a subordinate—then it can quickly become a nightmare for HR.