It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. However, that doesn’t mean that it needs to affect your business’s productivity or performance. Do you have rules for fraternization or dating in the workplace? If not, you may want to consider these things moving forward. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with relationships in the office:
- Don’t create sweeping regulations.
Establishing “all or nothing” rules never accomplish the thing you set out to solve. Instead, it alienates people or creates situations where your staff won’t be completely honest with you. Recognize that each individual couple will be different, and you can’t regulate everything. - Consider the position of the parties involved.
What you do want to avoid is a situation where people use their status in the company to manipulate others. This is especially true with a manager-employee relationship. If there are instances where someone uses the other’s position for personal gain, then it might be time to counsel both parties. - Intervene if there are major distractions.
The only time an office romance should be discussed in the office is when it is becoming a distraction to anyone else in the office. If an office romance is causing either of the parties in the relationship to be less productive, you need to intervene. If their drama is causing the entire team to be unproductive, you may need to take more advanced steps. - Know what to do if it ends badly.
There are no guarantees in life and while we all want every love story to end with a “happily ever after,” sometimes things go bad. If your office lovebirds start bringing their personal issues into the office, you need to sit them down and have a frank talk with them. If they are unable to resolve the situation, you can take action.
Are you prepared to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the office? Harvard Resource Solutions Staffing Agencies in Detroit MI can help today!