Love contracts are written acknowledgement stating that the workplace romances are consensual. This limits the liability of the organisation in case of any problem arising out of the relationship.
As stated by many participants, a survey report states that 40% employees in US have dated with their co-workers and 31% of them have gone for marriage.
Love contracts include the following aspects:
a) The relationship is consensual
b) No display of affection in work place
c) Both of them should waive the right to claim for sexual harassment.
d) Both of them should be able to withdraw from the relationship without any fear of professional backlash on them.
Before discussing the love contract, let us have a discussion in which love develops in the work places now days. In many companies (mostly knowledge companies), which employ a large number of young employees, love among the employees is quite common. In fact, one can find couples sitting in parks, food centers etc and chatting with each other. This public display of affection, at times, leads to embarrassment and also encourages gossips like what is going on between Mr. X and Miss. Y. This may encourage “amorous” distraction among other workers. This may reduce the working efficiency of the employees indirectly or directly. Moreover, cases have been reported where the love blossomed in a parasitic manner (one partner using the other for his/her own selfish needs).Moreover this may result in preferential treatment in job assignments and pay rises (After all, LOVE is BLIND). This results in burden on the employee and reduces his/her efficiency. Moreover, once such false love dream is over, the exploited “lover” is completely shattered. Another facet of love at work place is that if break-up occurs then the employee may file sexual harassment case on the other employee which may malign the image of the company. At times this leads to physical violence. Moreover, love at work, reduces efficiency in other ways like the lovers spend much time spending emails, chatting or using office phone for their personal talk.
But on the other hand, love is after all not that bad. In fact many companies promote marriage among employees by giving financial and non-financial incentives to the employees. in many organisations the work environment is very demanding and people have to stay very late till night. In such a situation, a person wants to get respite from the stress. At times this becomes the breeding ground for love. Love brings in a synergy among the employees and the complement each other. The duo of the employees can produce better results than total of the two employees individually. Moreover, a person in love remains happy and a happy person is very committed to his work and produces better results.
Taking into consideration the above facts one has to decide whether Love Contracts are actually needed. Because having a Love Contract means adding a guilt factor. This may have a negative impact on the employees. Love contracts can be used as a supplement to a company’s anti-harassment policy. The contract can cover issues like one employee will not accept any post that directly supervises the other. At times people feel that such contracts are personally invasive and difficult to administer. But the truth is that love at work place is a reality and it cannot be totally banned. So, the love contract should be administered to safe-guard the interest of the organisation. In addition to this the company may provide counselling to the “lovers”.
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