Small Business Owners Beware Of The Pitfalls Of Office Romance
As a small business owner, do you allow your employees to date? Have you ever stopped to consider the pitfalls or legal problems that can arise when allowing an office romance? What guidelines should you have in place?
Today, many people work longer hours while developing their careers. I often hear that there is no time to go out and meet people. Statistics show that a large percentage of people date their coworkers. However, let’s look at the danger of office romance from the point of view of the employer or business owner.
Pitfalls / Liability to the business owner
1. Sexual harassment: If one person outperforms the other and the relationship ends, the person who feels hurt or raped can file a lawsuit for having been sexually harassed. This may be your attempt to retaliate, equalize the score, or alleviate a hurt ego. It is not good for business, as your money will be used to defend your business.
2. Hostile work environment: if one of the parties involved is or becomes a supervisor over the other person who is now a minor, the minor person can claim that a hostile work environment exists when they are repressed or assigned a task or unpleasant project. Other employees who witness the romance in the office may also feel slighted and trigger a lawsuit or complaint.
3. Favoritism – Other employees may begin to feel that favoritism is taking place, be it real or imagined. This can reap its ugly head when one of the parties involved in the romance is promoted or given time off.
4. Blackmail: Now I know that you think this can only happen in a Lifetime movie, but sometimes people who are planted seek revenge. They may have a sex tape or video or photos that may cause embarrassment or harm to the other person and seek to encourage the person to get money.
5. Ruined reputation: Employees who get into an office romance not only run the risk of ruining their reputation, but they also risk ruining the reputation of the company. Scandal can spread like wildfire.
As a business owner, you should have a business or office policy that outlines the parameters for inter-office dating or romance between workers. You don’t want to inadvertently create a hostile work environment when other employees feel rejected or underappreciated because they perceive favoritism occurring. As a small business owner, you also need to make sure you have adequate insurance to protect your business in the event of a lawsuit. Lastly, at the very least you want to make sure that you are coaching and documenting coaching sessions with your employees in the event that someone needs to be fired due to violating your office policies.