What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? How about a nice romantic interlude … say, an audio conference on workplace romance? We’ll get to that in a minute. First, as promised, attorney Joseph Beachboard on Love Contracts.
In yesterday’s Advisor, employment law attorney Joseph Beachboard discussed the challenges of romance in the workplace. Today, he suggests that when a consensual relationship is brought to your attention, consider having the parties sign a “love contract.”
Beachboard is a shareholder in the Los Angeles office of law firm Ogletree Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart. His remarks appeared in a recent issue of the HR Manager’s Legal Reporter.
What exactly is such a contract? It’s a document between the involved parties and the company that recognizes the negative effects workplace romances often have and that states that the parties are agreeing on paper to do all in their power to avoid these effects. In essence, it’s the old logic of “if you can’t stop’ em, join’ em … but do it legally.”
Here’s how Beachboard says the making of such a contract should go:
First, he says, have separate conversations with each individual. In those talks:
1. Confirm that both agree that the relationship is truly consensual.
2. Advise both of the company’s sexual harassment and other applicable policies and have them sign those policies.
3. Stress the importance of professionalism at all work-related activities.
4. Warn against favoritism or conflicts of interest that may develop from their romantic involvement.
5. If the relationship ends, advise them to report any harassing conduct.
6. Ask both to sign and commit to the contract.
When an office romance goes sour, the lawsuits begin (if not filed by co-workers already). Learn not to become collateral damage when Cupid fires his arrow. Attend the February 14 BLR audio conference, 7 Steps for Effectively Managing Workplace Romance Issues. Satisfaction assured. Can’t attend? Pre-order the CD. Click for details
Contract Wording
The contract itself should start by reiterating the organization’s policies with regard to relationships, discrimination, favoritism, and harassment. It should state outright that:
1. Our relationship is entirely voluntary.
2. Our relationship will not have a negative impact on our work.
3. We will not engage in any public displays of affection or other behaviors that create a hostile work environment for others or that make others uncomfortable.
4. We will act professionally toward each other at all times, even if the relationship ends.
5. Neither party will participate in any company decision-making processes that could affect the other’s pay, promotional opportunities, performance reviews, hours, shifts, or career
6. We agree that, if the relationship ends, we will inform the company if we believe it is necessary to protect our rights or if the Harassment-Free Workplace Policy is violated.
7. We agree that if the relationship ends, we will respect the other person’s decision to end the relationship. We will not retaliate against the other person, seek to resume the relationship, or engage in any other conduct toward the other person that could violate the Harassment-Free Workplace Policy.
(Both parties date and sign.)
Dealing with love on the job? Valentine’s Day audio conference shows you how to manage those tricky office romances. Satisfaction is assured. Click for info
Wondering who in your organization should be signing a love contract? Need to know more about managing workplace romances? Our editors recommend a new 90-minute audio conference—appropriately delivered on Valentine’s Day— called Love on the Job: 7 Steps for Effectively Managing Workplace Romance Issues.
The date is Thursday, February 14, 2008. The time, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Eastern) adjust for your time zone. As with all BLR audio conferences, one fee trains all the staff you can fit around a conference phone (definitely include those lovers!). Plus, you can get your (and their) specific phoned-in or e-mailed questions answered in an extensive Q&A that follows the presentation, and your satisfaction is assured or you get a full refund.
What if you can’t attend on that date? Pre-order the conference CD. For more information on the conference and the experts presenting it, to register, or to pre-order the CD, click here. We’ll be happy to make the arrangements.