There’s love in the air… and why should the workplace be any different? After all this is where men and women spent the better part of their waking hours through the week, so the chances of a more ‘significant’ relationship developing are very high. Considering that a workplace romance involves two consenting adults, is it necessary for the company to get involved?

One major reason to pay attention to such relationships, is their potential to lead to complaints of sexual harassment. Let’s look at some possible scenarios.

1.  One partner ends the romance; the other is unable to accept this and tries persistently to revive it, despite repeated refusals by the other partner.

2.  After a break-up, a rejected partner accuses the other of sexual harassment. It is not easy to prove that the relationship had been consensual and the behaviour ‘welcome’ at the time.

3.  Following a break-up between partners who are in a reporting relationship, the subordinate claims to have been coerced into the relationship, fearing that refusal could have had negative repercussions.

Whether the complaints are genuine or contrived, the resulting chain of reactions could affect more than just the two people concerned.

While it is probably neither practical nor acceptable for companies to ban workplace romance, it would definitely be in order to create some guidelines to be followed. A sensible precaution would be to not permit a romantic relationship within a reporting relationship, or to require disclosure of such relationships so that alternate work arrangements can be made.

It would also help to sensitise employees to the nuances and practical do’s and don’ts of workplace romance. This is particularly important for anyone in a supervisory position, who may not understand the potential hazards inherent in their role, which could impact not only themselves but the company as well.

There is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water however. Managed well, some believe that workplace romance could actually result in improved employee engagement and retention!