Love is blind but Employer is not

The best place to date has undergone a gradual shift over the years. Earlier it was believed the school (including the B schools) and Colleges were the best place to date, while workplace was more like a place for professional ambition, the “Karma Bhumi” but things have changed over the years. The working hours has tremendously increased especially in the case of knowledge workers. Companies have adapted to a culture where they have encouraged employees staying longer hours in the organization. It has basically two consequences, first the employee gradually becomes aloof from the society. He virtually has no personal life outside the company. The second one is he/she gets closer to people in the organization. He starts socializing with company people outside the company premises also. And incase of greater socialization between two people of opposite sex there is always a chance that they would fall in love with each other.

In such a situation there is always a conflict of interest. It is basically a conflict between “rights to privacy” against “company's right to protect its interests”. The two important questions are whether or not the employee's personal, private or social relationships endanger, injure or jeopardize the employer's legitimate business interests and whether or not the employer violates, invades or infringes upon the employee's personal privacy and social relationships. The employer is not only concerned about conflict of interests or trade secrets but also about a romantic relationship between employees which leads to favoritism, hostile work environments, and sexual harassment ... and even workplace violence.

The real problem arises when the relationship dissolves into a feud or outright physical violence. The sad end of the relationship not only tears two hearts but also the organization apart. Incase of breakup ,women often complained of their ex-boyfriends mentally harassing them, verbally abusing them, and threatening them. When the personal life of employees badly affect working environment of the organization then it is a legitimate concern for the employer. And in such a case it is the “privacy” of the organization that is invaded.

The intentions of people getting into a relationship can also be questioned. Most of the time it is the emotional support, love and care that brings two people together. But it is not the case always. Sometimes the motive to get into a relationship can be materialistic in nature in the form of expectation of promotion or a salary hike. This kind of relationships generally takes place between the supervisor and the subordinate in the same department. When the expectations of either of the part is not met they start exploiting or blackmailing the other. Sometimes it goes outside the company premises in the form of lawsuit where the subordinate charges the supervisor of sexual harassment. These kinds of incidents not only bring financial losses but also defamation to the organization. The higher management should sense this kind of circumstances in the organization and should take proactive actions. This might involve asking one or both the employees to leave the organization. But the management needs to be very careful while taking such a decision. Since most relationships are between a male supervisor and a female subordinate, and supervisors are harder to replace, if the organization continuously asks the woman to leave in such circumstances, the organization may (legitimately) face sex discrimination claims.

It remains a tightrope that companies must walk. So a love Contract is a management weapon to counter the unfavorable situations arising from its employee getting into a romantic relationship. As Love is Blind but employer is not or it can not afford to be.