Mgmt 325 - Relationships in the Workplace

Relationships in the Workplace

MGMT-325

MWF 1:00-1:50

Leah Whitehead

Workplace relationships are interpersonal relationships between two individuals of the same organization that develops a relationship with mutual attraction. People spend the bulk of their time at work, which makes the temptation to start an office romance. Taking in consideration that these are indeed the people you see every day, so it is easy to get caught up in a romantic relationship with a coworker

As companies grow and add employees to their company, you will often see workers dividing themselves and getting into groups. Those groups may turn into one on one dating relationships. Research shows that nearly 85% of 18-29 years old employees have romantic relationships with a co-worker. As companies grow, some have started to adopt policies that bans or limits workplace dating. Enforcing these policies can also take a toll on a company’s brand name. Just because some people are going to simply agree with these policies and some are going to think they’re not needed. There are many ways managers could deal with workplace dating relationships. Some policies that could be enforced in a workplace are mangers, could simply do nothing, they could ban it, they can allow it with written disclosure, they can allow it but never within the chain of authority. Each of these options are solutions, but they definitely could have good or bad consequences.

Some people would argue that dating someone in the same working environment as you would be a good thing. They may look at it as being a good feeling to see the person you’re intimate with every day, all day. They may also think spending this much time with one another could just possibly make the intimate relationship stronger. I could also see people getting an actual rush

I personally don’t think employees should be able to date in a workplace. To me it would just be a lack of focus. We all know how we feel in relationships, we’re either really happy in love, or just having a hard time with the relationship we are in. Either way being really happy or having struggles in a relationship you will most definitely be distracted at your workplace. There is saying that goes “you don’t dip your pen in the company ink,” and I couldn’t personally agree more. As I’ve already stated I don’t agree with co-workers being in an intimate relationship and working in the same place, but it’s hard for most people because you’re attracted to who you’re attracted to. If I was a manger and I had someone dating in my workplace, what would I do? I would enforce the policy of allowing the relationship, but with a written disclosure. If my policy was not respected there may or may not be a warning.  I feel as if I would just know what to do once I was put into that situation.