Affairs in the workplace

[rumbleseat]

A simple question. How are affairs viewed in your workplace. Are their policies dealing with employee fraternization? how are they viewed if there is no official policy? If you are in the military where affairs are not acceptable, have you ever seen it sanctioned either officially or non officially?

[rumbleseat]

a few links to start discussion...

 

Dangerous Workplace Romances

 

How to Investigate a Workplace Affair | Chron.com

 

The Challenges of Workplace Affairs

 

Career and Workplace: OFFICE ROMANCE: AFFAIRS AT THE WORKPLACE

 

( I'm not saying that the views on these link are accurate or not)

[carhill]

Here's a thread for comparison, from about six years ago:

 

http://www.loveshack.org/forums/romantic/marriage-life-partnerships/infidelity/139900-affairs-workplace-cnn

 

IME, pretty common. If fact, so much so I often get confused about who's married to who. In my industry, an employer isn't going to piss away an otherwise valuable employee for such issues, as they could find themselves facing that employee from their competitor and getting hammered for such a decision for reasons that had no direct impact on their business.

 

At the owner level, fuggetaboutit. Work up the legal scenarios in advance and stick to the program set out by their lawyer.

 

I got the wake-up call back in the early 80's, dispelling any ignorance I'd had prior. Remaining in the demographic since then hasn't done anything to dispel those early lessons.

 

Ideally, everyone would do everything 'right' in all aspects of the workplace but people are people and that's how it goes. If one thinks they'll be rewarded for doing the right thing, think again. No rewards, not from society anyway. Personal satisfaction? Sure.

 

Regarding the military, I'm constantly surprised how many stories show up here where the person is completely unaware of Article 134 and how it could impact their career, if active duty and adulterous, or as a spouse seeking equitable treatment when betrayed. Still, like in the workplace, such goes on everyday. Part of life.

[yellowmaverick]

In my workplace, morality and integrity are highly valued - in fact, those traits are the basis for our bread and butter. If an affair is discovered and any part of it took place during work hours or was destructive to other employees, both employees would be fired. In fact, two of the owners were ousted by the other owners due to their affair before I started working here.. Reputation is everything to the business and they do what they have to do to protect it.

 

If no phone calls, emails, etc. took place during work hours or on work premises, I don't believe that much would be said, but not sure.

[Tayken]

Still amazes me that people indulge in this act....I mean for crying out loud

 

Yes you might think it's convenient, but think of the repercussions

 

1. if the company folds...you are both out of a job

 

2. As the saying goes, don't crap where you work...if it goes south, you still have to see each other and perhaps work together, making for an awkward situation

 

3. There might be a small print in the HR rules of no fraternization

[rumbleseat]

I can speak to the military question.

 

If an A is discovered, the member can lose rank, lose out on an expected promotion, be released or even sent to prison, especially if it is an superior/subordinate situation. This can and does happen.

 

The view seems to be a combination of morality and pragmatism. The military is supposed to represent the "best" and put the best face on our country when abroad. Having a's does not do this. The pragmatic part is that a member is supposed to be deployable at any time and not distracted by being in an A. Even conventional relationships between members who work closely together are Not permitted. The persons involved are expected to self identify and they will be sent to different units.

 

Then there is the piece about the perception that a promotion could be based on who a person is sleeping with. This is very disruptive to morale, especially among women who have worked very hard to be taken seriously in a male dominated workplace.

 

As for a more conventional workplace, in the ones I've worked in, there were A's , and no matter how much the two involved thought they were keeping it under the radar (which would lend credence to the idea they are looked down on, otherwise, why try and hide it? ) people always knew. There was usually a bias on the part of both to appear impartial, so much so that it led to people not getting projects, promotions or other rewards that they really had earned.