J.D. Besides raising a few eyebrows, office romances can jeopardize your job security and put employers and co-workers on edge. If you find yourself drawn to an attractive co-worker, be aware of company policy and relatively new trends in office romance management. Lester Jones, attorney and law partner with the law firm of Littler Mendelson in Los Angeles, says employers have been approaching labor and employment law firms for years about work romance issues. Before you consider another date with your new office partner, give some thought to what you might want do if asked to sign one of these agreements. Once two employees stop dating, one person may believe that the former partner no longer treats them fairly or ignores them when a promotion should be considered.
Most employers realize that it's unwise to ban all office romances.
However, they are very interested in preventing these relationships from having a negative impact on the workplace. By having both parties sign a Consensual Relationship Agreement, the two parties will be put on active notice of their separate rights and responsibilities, both during the course of the relationship and after its possible demise. They realize that others will be watching and try to help them protect their legal rights. Fortunately, most employers have not found it necessary to intervene once these types of contracts have been signed. Other questions still remain.