Detroit—February 17, —When the pandemic was more info many workers remote, office romance was the last dating on the mind of most employers.

Companies need to accept the reality that people who are thrown together policy hours a day will form relationships with co-workers, and some of those relationships will be romantic or sexual.

While outright office romance bans do not work, there are still policy https://wellnessways.info/austin-speed-dating.php that can be implemented to mitigate the risks inherent in workplace romance.

Do You Really Need an Employee Dating Policy? (Spoiler Alert: Yes)

What dating when the relationship is over? If the manager decides to end the relationship, a scorned lover may claim the relationship was never consensual but was, in reality, sexual harassment. If the subordinate breaks off the romance, the subordinate may claim that any negative employment decisions that follow are retaliatory.

Brouwer says a fraternization policy aims to address those circumstances before they arise.

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Also, the married Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, recently stepped down after admitting to having a consensual relationship with a former employee. Regardless of who may end the relationship, if it policy end, it can cause tension in the workplace that can affect work performance and productivity. Looking at fraternization policies in general, Brouwer offers the following suggestions.

About Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC Celebrating more than 30 years, Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer specializes in employment litigation, traditional labor law, workplace investigations, and management consultation and training for private and public sector employers. The firm also provides arbitration and mediation services. Woman-owned and led since its founding, Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer exclusively represents management in the prevention, resolution and litigation of labor and employment disputes. The supervisor and the employee should not be permitted to work together on the same matters, and the supervisor should have no decision-making authority with regard to that employee.

A fraternization policy rich man dating older also address romances dating coworkers of equal rank. They should be cautioned to avoid displays of affection while "policy" work and informed that if the relationship produces a disruptive work environment, they may be subject to discipline.

When drafting a fraternization policy, employers need to be careful with the language of the policy. Such policies have been found unlawful under the National Labor Relations Act. EAFocus Inc. Fornasiero Principal Industries Served.