Love Contracts: What Are the Issues for Managers?

Anonymous

Many people meet their partner at work - I did - and we are still happily married 20 years later - though I no longer work at the same Company.
It would be wrong to totally ban such liaisons though the individuals themselves have to be sensible and not let their work be affected. Problems really arise in relationships between junior and immediate superior. In my case we merely happened to work at the same establishment.

Anonymous

Surely there are so many variables that to try this would be nigh on impossible and would leave an employer open to much more aggro that its probably not worth the effort in the 1st place

Anonymous

I watched a senior member of my team get involved and have watched them both do incredible damage to morale because staff around them can not trust them and feel ignored. Plus it puts a pressure on those in the relationship as any positive career changes e.g. promotion is looked upon with great synicism.

Anonymous

The "love Contract" as persued by establishments in the US,need be critically looked at. It is not all hogwash. The problem is its generality in application vis a vis the case by case approach expected.
For teamwork & MOB's to be practically effective requires the input of all members of the team/project, thus requiring much more than knowing a clleagues name.
Personally, most workplace involvements have not helped the parties involved.
Let's look at the WHY's & HOW's to prevent their pitfalls.

Anonymous

I met my partner at work. We have worked alongside each other for over six years and spent one of those together. We have always tried to keep work and personal lives seperate and are very careful not to bring any arguments into the office. We now live together but keep all our private issues our business and not the business of other colleagues. It can work out well though I am currently looking for new employment - not because of any discomfort, purely because I miss the excitement of coming home and seeing somebody at the end of the day!

Anonymous

In most workplaces there already is an environment of "secrecy and whistleblowing" where relationships between staff are concerned. Old scores are settled and new ones introduced. Employers should realise that the vast majority of employees involved in a relationship with a colleague will conduct themselves in a professional manner, whatever the eventual outcome.

Anonymous

The 'Love Contract' idea is complete rubbish, and it infringes upon a basic human right to freely associate with whomever we choose.
What about a 'Like Contract' -- where employers are forbidden to 'like' the people they work with. Just as ridiculous, but the very idea shows up the unworkability and downright unfairness of trying to control anybody's emotions by contract.
There are too many laws in our society as it is, as power mad governments of every stripe seek to cover all aspects of our lives for their benefit. The last thing we need to do is promote the same mentality in civil contracts between employer and employee.

Anonymous

Where the relationship involves a line manager and a subordinate (awful phrase I know!) member of staff, there are bound to be concerns from others in the team / group and the wider company ranging from simple concerns over the senior one's objectivity to accusations "pillow talk" and the breaching of work-related confidences!
Trusting people to be responsible is not on; if they were really responsible they'd have never got it together or kept it going in the first place!! The old adage "never on your own doorstep" still rings true. The Met Police used to allegedly transfer officers out of the same station (which may have acted as partial deterrent?) so why can't other organisations so likewise IF there is likely to be a conflict?

Anonymous

Shall we develop it a bit further to apply it to college and graduate study when the more than half of the school fees are sponsored by the govt out of taxpayers' pockets? Students who find themselves fallen in love must either break up or drop out from a public school.
Love is a many splendid thing.
Love contract is an absurd idea.

Anonymous

Political correctness gone mad. How can I possibly be expected to sign a contract stating that I will not become emotionally involved with someone I work with? This is a management issue. If management identify that a personal relationship is having an adverse affect upon the working environment THEY should manage it.

Anonymous

no one could honestly say that they will never get emotionally attached to a work collegue.To sign a contract stating this would only put more pressure on the individual & more staff leaving jobs because of this.