Most companies have a strict policy about dating and the work place. This is for several reasons and most of those reasons apply to having a married couple or family working at the store. A dating at work policy simply states that you cannot date anyone who works for the company no matter what department they work for or where in the company they are located.
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&bullReason 1- It can interfere with your work. When you are going out, making plans to go out, or even just talking to someone you are dating it is assumed that you will not be concentrating on the job at hand. If it does not work out then it is assumed that you will not be able to work with each other or handle working at the same company. We have seen awkward break ups where an individual does not wish to run into the other person and it can make concentrating at work doubly hard, especially if feelings were involved.
&bullReason 2- This deals more in favoritism. We have seen those who break the dating policy shows favoritism. That means the individual may climb the ladder a little faster or be put on the special assignments, or even be put on an assignment they do not qualify for. This in recent years has not been seen as much as it used to.
&bullReason 3- This is more from an employee standpoint than the last two. Most individuals feel that the less you bring your personal life to work the better. This is in general true. Most people tend to find out that they cannot work with the person they are dating; there can be many reasons for that especially if you are both in the same position. It can create animosity among you.
&bullReason 4- Gossip. The gossip mill is always working no matter how much you and your employer may try to get the gossip stopped by education. People will inevitably find out that you are dating and it can cause contention among your peers for personal or professional reasons.
&bullReason 5- Sexual harassment. It is possible that once or if you break off the relationship the other person may cry sexual harassment due to hurt feelings. This is a more vindictive standpoint and not often the case, but it does happen.
&bullReason 6- The best way to avoid any work related problems in your personal life is to stick with the dating policy that your company has. At the very least if your boss found out the person would have to fire at least one of you if not ask you both to resign for fairness. The policy is in place and any boss is able to invoke the policy if they find out that you have broken it. Dating at work does happen and sometimes people find happiness at work, eventually getting married, but more often than not animosity arises or at least a tense working relationship after the personal relationship has run its course.
Dating at work can be both a joy and extremely uncomfortable. Employers recognize this and the potential problems that can arise so they often instigate the no dating at work policy. Personally and professionally, there are many valid reasons for not dating a co- worker that have been listed above. It is rare for someone to find their soul mate at work, but the potential problems of trying are definitely going to be there. It is best to respect your company policy and avoid any relationship other than friendship with your co- workers.
