Is it ethical to, as a manager, date your employee?

Question

I am doing a research project for one of my business classes. This class is Ethics and we are required to do what is called "Primary Research" to help resolve the issue.

Here is the "ethical" issue:
A company called R&CC hired an employee who became manager four years ago. We'll call her Sara. Several months later, this same company hired someone to be the General Manager. We'll call him Jeff. She is twenty two and he is thirty.

The two started dating a year-and-a-half ago and have since been married.

At R&CC there are rules against inter-office relationships. Furthermore, Sara has begun to drastically slack off at work during her daily/nightly duties, doing the bare minimum and sometimes less. There have been several complaints against her, nevertheless, she is still employed and her boss/husband does not do anything about it. The boss will discipipine his employees for dating each other.

What is/are the ethical issues? What should be done to resolve this issues?

Answer 1

As her manager - not her husband, her lack in work ethic since their relationship should be addressed or if their is another manager - that other mgr should be supervising her and addressing these issues.

I would think this boss may want to adjust his interoffice dating policy since people who live in glass houses should not throw stones..

Since there were rules - yes it is technically ethically - not the "right" thing to do - but love is not an ethical question - we can't help who we fall in love with and pass some kind of moral judgement in our hearts.

Answer 2

You say the company has rules against inter-office relationships. How are these rules enforced, and how do employees know of these rules. You say complaints have been made against Sara for her work performance. Has it been documented? Has there been any performance appraisal itemizing a problem with her work. Did Sara and her husband know what the company rules were about office relationships. When did the company know about Sara's marriage or do they know?

These are issues of Employment Law. Until these questions are answered completely, the ethical issues are a bit murky. Does the company want to fire them and possibility incur a wrongful termination suit? Certainly the manager was remiss in his duties to manage his people. Employment Law in California is more employee oriented than employer oriented.

Answer 3

For me, putting things in order dictates more of the ethical issues. We can never really avoid inter-office relationships for a reason thatpeople mingle there for their everyday lives thus in effect developing more affectionate feelings for somebody else. As to the situation cited above, the ethical issues here would be the disciplinary measures for the wife and the way the boss (husband) handles the situation. Even if there is a distict relationship between the two or whoever in the same office, there should be bounds on their personal and office relationship. Office is for work purposes, therefore execution of proper works should be done. Personal matters should be left outside office matters. That's what we call "PROFESSIONALISM".

Answer 4

well at my old job they fired the manager for dating my friend she was the cashier. They dated for a long time b4 the company found out about it.
It is unethical for a boss to date his/her empoyees. I think the bosses should get fired for dating the employees bc they would know much better not to do that and they could take advantage of the person that they are dating and is the boss of. Or the employee that he is dating like in the seniero might take it has away to get a raise or a way to slack off in the job unlike the bosses they really can not do slack off becasue they still have upper bosses that they have to impress and do a good job.

But i do think that an employee can date someone on the same level has anthor employee but i do not think a person should date someone that is in charge of them at the job.
well hope this helps ya.

Answer 5

There are numerous issues here to unravel:
a) Dating a company employee against company policy - unethical.
b) Creating a situation for a sexual harassment suit - unethical
c) Applying different standards of performance - unethical
d) Performing at a lesser rate of productivity - unethical.
Note these are unethical, not illegal. The company would need to review the "just cause" termination clause delicately.
I presume upper management knows of the dating/marriage. An annonymous note re: productivity might be of some use - might be.
It is not clear if they are the lead management. If they are, then its their game.

Answer 6

Reading between the lines, I think you have several issues here


The boss will do what he wants to


if you are not happy with the situation you need to look for another job BEFORE you get on the wrong side of the boss

Answer 7

Big no. It's just plain stupid to date someone you work with unless you're certain you aren't ever going to break up. Not to mention who wants their private life and work mingled together for everyone in the office to gossip about.

Answer 8

major conflict of interest going on. Im not gonna name them, just say I said whatever reasons your looking to add into your thesis/assignment

Answer 9

dont get ur meat from where u get ur bread!!