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August 17, 2021,
Just innocent fun right?
Sure, there is alcohol involved and they are co-workers who just happen to wear guns, but what could be the harm?
It is a scene that we’ve seen play out in procedural police shows again and again. It’s been a rough day at the office and a group of co-workers go to the local pub to take some shots.
Not at each other. Holster that.
We mean down some shots. Some in pretty colors and all have alcohol in them.
Laughing, celebrating and back slapping should be fine as long as it is not flirting.
Especially in public.
The one thing about Covid-19 and sheltering in, it sure cut down on the office romance factor.
How do you meet people these days? We’ve never done it but online dating looks like a complete nightmare. Most people fudge who they are and what they look like. Then when you meet, things can get awkward fast.
That is why office romances can be so tempting. You know who the person is because, after all, you work with them and see them on a day to day basis.
Office romances are not new but with the legal issues swirling around them, today’s office romances can be a legal powder keg about to blow.
There are many films where sparks flew between the boss and the secretary. Immediate red flag because of the imbalance of power but at least on film, they have an erotic appeal.
Here are two of our favorites.
Marnie is a 1964 American psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay by Jay Presson Allen was based on the 1961 novel of the same name by writer Winston Graham. The film stars Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery.
Here is the storyline.
Marian Holland charms Sidney Strutt (Martin Gabel), the head of a tax consulting company, into hiring her without references.
Bad idea.
Some months later, she steals nearly $10,000 from the company safe and flees. Changing her appearance and identity, Marian, whose real name is Margaret “Marnie” Edgar (Tippi Hedren), travels to Virginia.
Mark Rutland (Sean Connery), a wealthy widower who owns a publishing company in Philadelphia, meets with Strutt on business. He learns about the theft and recalls Marnie from a previous visit. Some months later, Marnie, posing as Mary Taylor, happens to apply to Mark’s company and is hired after he recognizes her.
While working weekend overtime with Mark, Marnie has a panic attack during a thunderstorm. Mark comforts then kisses her.
Not at the office but still a very bad idea (fun though).
They begin seeing each other socially. It is learned that Marnie suffers from bad dreams, and the color red can trigger an extreme emotional reaction.
Mark learns that out the hard way but hey, he gets over it and marries her. Marnie has to be one of the most beautiful secretaries he has ever met and we have ever seen.
Then there was this erotic gem.
Before James Spader played ex-government agent Raymond “Red” Reddington on the popular television series Blacklist, he couldn’t take his eyes off of his incredibly sexy secretary.
Secretary is a 2002 American erotic black comedy romantic drama film directed by Steven Shainberg and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the short story Secretary by Mary Gaitskill.
Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, the film explores the intense relationship between a dominant lawyer and his submissive secretary, who indulge in various types of BDSM activity such as erotic spanking and Petplay.
Hard to secure that in the offices these days.
Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), the socially awkward and emotionally sensitive youngest daughter of a dysfunctional family, adjusts to normal life after having been hospitalized following an incident of dangerous self-harm. She learns to type and applies for a job as a secretary for an eccentric attorney, E. Edward Grey (James Spader). Grey explains she is overqualified for the job (having scored higher than anyone he has ever interviewed) and that it is “very dull work” as they only use typewriters; Lee, however, agrees to work under these conditions.
Though at first Grey appears to be highly irritated by Lee’s typos and other mistakes, it soon becomes apparent that he is sexually aroused by her obedient behavior.
It gets a lot wilder from there.
Office romances can be fun to watch on film but incredibly risky in the office from a legal stand point.
Should you just watch them on film or should you take a risk at the office?
You should always consult an attorney first but we have a visiting writer who can help you decide if it is worth it, especially if you are in a position of power and control.
The Office Romance: An Employer’s Guide to Dealing With Dating at Work
When the love bug bites two employees, it is often left to managers and HR personnel to deal with the consequences of the office romance. It is not an uncommon situation. A CareerBuilder.com survey revealed that nearly 40% of participants had dated a co-worker, and 18% admitted to having at least 2 inter-office relationships. What does all that dating at work mean for employers?
It’s true that not all employee romances create problems for managers, but when dating at work relationships sour, they create the potential for anything from low morale to litigation. Here are examples of how the office romance may affect your workplace:
- Love blooms between a manager and a subordinate, creating ill feelings among other team members.
- Excessive public displays of affection (what we called PDAs in high school) cause other employees to feel uncomfortable.
- A bitter worker in an office romance gone bad files false sexual harassment claims.
- A manager who is a serial office dater creates the perception of favoritism for those he or she dates.
So what is an employer to do about staffers who begin dating at work?
Although you know you have a responsibility to provide a workplace free from sexual harassment, you may question how far you can go in dictating how employees engage in office romance. Consider incorporating one of these three workplace romance policies used by other employers:
- Non-Fraternization Policy: These workplace romance guidelines prohibit romantic relationships between employees. This can seem like a good, no-frills solution to love in the workplace problems, but there are challenges. For example, it can be tricky to monitor for compliance, casting managers and HR personnel as office anti-Cupids charged with policing illicit relationships. What is more, some workers may argue that a non-fraternization policy tramples on their constitutional right to privacy. The state of California actually prohibits employers from restricting off-the-clock activities.
- Conflict of Interest Policy: Another example of workplace romance policies is one that prevents conflicts of interest between managers and subordinates. It might prohibit any close personal connection, whether it’s a family relationship or an office romance. One solution to a manager/subordinate relationship with a conflict of interest would be to reassign one of the employees.
- Informed Consent Policy: An informed consent policy ensures both parties involved in an office romance are aware of and comply with the employer’s sexual harassment policies. For example, you might ask both parties to sign what is sometimes called a “love contract,” in which the employees acknowledge they are aware of the sexual harassment policy.
When it is time to implement workplace romance policies, you will also need to consider how the company will inform and train staff and management about the new guidelines.
Of course, some companies default to having no policy for dealing with love in the workplace. This might seem like an easier option than hashing out a new company policy, but the reality is that the no-policy approach could cost you in time and litigation down the road.
Navigating the repercussions of an office romance can be challenging for business owners and managers. Protect yourself and the company by considering if workplace romance policies are right for your workplace.
Dianne Shaddock is the Founder of Easy Small Business HR, Employee Hiring and Managing Tips. Through the Employee Hiring and Managing Tips podcast, blog, and weekly ‘quick tips’ e-newsletters, Dianne offers expert advice on how to make better hiring decisions, manage difficult employees, develop employee policies, motivate staff, and so much more. No stuffy, corporate HR policy lingo; but straight forward, easy to understand and implement advice for businesses just like yours. Stay ahead of the curve and go to Easy Small Business HR.com for more tips on how to hire and manage your staff effectively.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dianne_Shaddock/549180
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6507432
OPENING PHOTO Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com By-kiuikson-Editorial-use-Shutterstock-photo-credit-
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marnie_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_(2002_film)
