are workplace romances untehical?

Answer 1

It depends on the situation...!

Answer 2

No, certainly not unethical. Some companies discourage or even have rules aginst workplace romances for fear that the romance may interfere with the work, whether because of distraction while the romance is going on, or bitterness and an inability to work together if and when the romance ends. My personal feeling is that a company should make no rules against or even discourage workplace romances in any way. The personal lives of their employees is none of their business. However, when an employees work suffers, regardless of the cause, then steps can be taken by the company to insure productivity from it's employees, starting with a discussion with the employee(s) as to why their work has been lacking and what steps can be taken to improve their performance.

There is, of course, the problem of supervisors dating their underlings. This can be a more serious problem if a bitter manager starts mistreating an ex-lover who is under their management. This can open the door to lawsuits. But again, mature and professional people who can put their emotions aside in the workplace and treat all fairly regardless of personal relationships should not be punished because of the few jerks who can not act maturely or professionally in the workplace. If a manager is shown to be acting on his/her emotions when dealing with an employee and not treating them fairly and justly, no matter the reason, then they should be reprimanded and possibly terminated depending on the aggregiousness of the offense. Now, if it's the big boss, ie CEO, who is guilty ... hello lawsuit. In summary, managers and bosses need to be especially careful with workplace romances and make sure that it in no way affects their treatment of their current or ex lover ... and be able to prove it.

Answer 3

I don't see that there's usually anything unethical about them but they're not very wise. The only situation where I can see an ethical problem would be where one is the subordinate of the other.

I've known many couples who worked together and married & continued working in the same place w/o any difficulties. Only one involved a supervisor but she wasn't his supervisor & they didn't work in the same dept.

My office permitted workplace romances (except extra-marital affairs) assuming that we were adult enough to keep it out of the office when things didn't work out. And we did.

Answer 4

It's only unethical if you give that person preferencial treatment in your profession. In fact, some financial institutions will fire you if you get involved with someone that could profit monetarily from your relationship with them.

It's not so much unethical as much as it is not prudent. Imagine, hypothetically, that you do not marry this person. You guys break up. Now you see them everyday. You might resent them, you might hear that they are dating someone new, you might get angry when they bring their new gf or bf to the company party. And all that will show, which your co-workers will see as wildly unprofessional. If it's too obvious and your performance suffers, you are likely to get canned. Why? Because you had to get your rocks off with your co-worker. I would recommend staying clear of anyone that you work with on a regular basis. Breaking up with them would make things very difficult.

You might say, "well, there's no plan to break up", well, I'm happy for you, but most relationships end in a breakup or a divorce, is it worth your job?

Answer 5

No mater how you try to keep workplace romances from affecting your work, it will always have some affect. If the romance changes the way you relate to other co-workers, special treatment because of the relationship, or gives the impression of impropriety beware, all will suffer.

Answer 6

of direction it really is - any heavily situation encumbered theory like that which predicates that there be antagonism and discord between both dooms a courting or romance. It will develop into extra of a communicate element and by no ability romance - you both argue, disagree lots, or for ever and ever communicate the high quality details of 'oppression' of girls and so on, and the hot 'situation' dredged up by a few feminist imagine-tank (oxymoron there). kind of like a by no ability-ending GS....

Answer 7

Between a boss and a subordinate yes, and in many companies it is also forbidden. Between equals or people in different deptments, I wouldn't say unethical, but it should only be attempted if both parties are mature enough to deal with a break up should one occur.

Answer 8

A romance between two single people at work is ok, but a workplace affair between married co-workers is unethical, I think.

Answer 9

It's probably not unethical, unless one of you happens to be married. If one is the other's superior, it could be very problematic as well. Other than that, you would have to think about how it would feel to stay at your job if things ended poorly. If your company has rules against it, I don't think it would be worth the potential cost.

Answer 10

They're just not a good idea. Especially if you end up breaking up. It can be hard to work with someone that ripped your heart out and stomped all over it.

Answer 11

could be...

try-
Conflict of Interest
Poor Judgement
Bias in Pay or Promotion

not to mention-
Loss of respect from peers
Potential job loss
Loss of reputation