When Cupid Strikes at the Office, the Arrows Could Sting
OfficeClick.com Survey Reveals That
Office Romances Are Commonplace and Distracting,
Often Affecting Productivity and Creating Favoritism
PALO ALTO, Calif. (February 18, 2000) - Singles
bars and blind dates aren't the only ways to meet a romantic partner -- many people are looking in the next cubicle. According to a survey sponsored by OfficeClick.com, the online service for admins, 66 percent of
employees know of a relationship that has developed on company time in the past year.
"Office romances are a natural occurrence," says Nan DeMars, president of Executary Services, office ethics
trainer and author of YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT? When/Where & How to Draw the Line at Work (Simon & Schuster). "Women and men work side-by-side in almost equal numbers, and usually look and act
their best. It is no surprise that busy professionals can be drawn to one another. After all, once one is out of school, what better place to meet someone than in the workplace?" DeMars addresses
the pitfalls of workplace 'affairs of the heart' in a column on OfficeClick.com.
So what's wrong with having Cupid hanging around the office? Potentially, plenty.
About half of the 1000 respondents to
the OfficeClick.com survey said they find office romances "a distraction that impacts office productivity" and said that they "lead to favoritism." Should such alliances go sour, they can also
polarize employees against one another and create an uncomfortable work environment, particularly if one partner is in a subordinate position.
According to one respondent, "Office romances, particularly between
a manager and subordinate*create a climate of resentment, suspicion and mistrust of management decisions with respect to promotions and fairness in the workplace."
DeMars points out that companies can -- and
should -- establish policies preventing couples from working for each other, helping to curb the legal risks of such a liaison.
In OfficeClick.com's survey, 68 percent of respondents said that their company does
not have an office romance policy, at least one of which they're aware.
"This trend is changing," said Michelle Burke, author of The Valuable Office Professional (Amacon, 1997) and president of
Executive Counterparts, a company that consults on workplace productivity and job satisfaction. "Today's CEOs have a heightened awareness of the impact of personal relationships on their company's bottom
line, and so we see companies protecting themselves by putting these policies into place" she said. Burke also is a columnist for OfficeClick.com.
DeMars agrees. "No one wants to kill Cupid
-- nor can we ever legislate romance. However, companies must protect themselves from potential liability. Sexual harassment, discrimination and the perception of favoritism (manipulating salaries and
advancement opportunities) are potential hazards that can result from a manager/subordinate office relationship," she advises. "Of course, anything resulting in romance cannot be all that bad. Some
professional couples work longer hours if employed by the same company, and they're no doubt happier if they have the option of meeting for a cup of coffee once in a while," she added.
In fact, 29 percent of
OfficeClick survey participants indicated that office loves are "perfectly appropriate and fun." Said one respondent, "It's nice to see people happy. I've known three couples who met at work
and married, and I was very happy for them."
According to Burke, it is ultimately the individual's choice whether or not to engage in an office romance. "My advice is that there are always
consequences for your actions, so be accountable and follow your heart."
About OfficeClick.com, Inc.
OfficeClick.com (http://www.officeclick.com)
is the Online Workcenter SM for America's 10.5 million administrative professionals, who influence over $200 billion in spending per year. This is the first time this important, previously overlooked group has been addressed by a technology company. The service integrates daily administrative tasks, constantly updated content, lively community discussions and e-commerce. OfficeClick.com, Inc. is a privately held company based in Palo Alto, Calif. Founded in 1998, the company's investors include Doll Capital Management, Forrest Binkley & Brown, InterWest Partners, Sigma Partners, Spectrum Equity Investors and St. Paul Venture Capital.
Copyright (c) 2000 OfficeClick.com, Inc. All rights reserved. OfficeClick.com , the OfficeClick.com logo , and Online Workcenter are service marks of OfficeClick.com, Inc., which may be registered in some
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