The two would marry 15 years later. About nine of 10 companies that prohibit or discourage workplace romance do so because they are afraid of later sexual harassment claims. About six of 10 are concerned about the morale of co-workers when the love lights shine. Another national study found that even though corporations are doing all they can to discourage love at the water cooler, some seeds apparently take root. In increasing numbers, husbands and wives are sharing the same occupation, according to the Employment Policy Foundation, based in Washington, D.C. Husbands and wives who work in elementary or secondary schools lead the ranking of couples who work in the same occupation in the same industry.
Farmers are next on the list of people who are most likely to marry another in the same occupation.
They are followed by food and lodging managers, lawyers and judges and sales supervisors. But when love doesn' t make it all the way to the altar, companies often end up picking up the phone. They call people like Ms. Ferrigno. Her strategy is to work with the company on appropriate corporate actions to minimize legal exposure. Part of the problem for a human resources consultant is that love sometimes blooms into far more.