Bound not to fall in love with co-worker

When on one hand, a confectionery factory in Britain boasts of 122 of its 500 staff being in a relationship with each other, on the other, some corporate firms are implementing ‘no dating colleagues clause’ on the company contracts.
Advocates of such contracts cite many reasons for organizations to implement this type of clause. The main line of thinking for this policy is usually wasted work time between two smitten employees.Even the possibility of the aftermath of their break-up is considered. They worry that if a break-up does occur between two employees then the consequences can often reverberate throughout the workplace. Many managers, who have seen this happen, have claimed that the couples have often acted like teenagers or love sick, high school children after their break-up and this is not exactly a basis for a good working atmosphere.
While most HR departments have similar views on office romance, not all of them spell the rules on contract. Certain media houses in the city have laid down policies instead. Says Sona Mehra, an HR professional with a media house, “Special approvals are required when a spouse of an employee applies for a position with the company.” However, co-workers who get married cannot work together in the same department post marriage. “We don’t allow them to continue with the same team,” she says.
And if lawyer Mahesh Vaswani is to be believed, a policy in place on such matters could be more effective than contractual binding, “as such a contract would be in conflict with law, and it cannot be enforced”. It may only work as a psychological pressure tactic, but an employee cannot be sacked on this ground, he says. Now that may bring some cheer to love birds nestled in office cubicles.
Cupid around cubicles
A recent study claims that office romances are on the rise as more than a third of employees admit that it is the best place to find love.
The study reveals that 35 per cent of people have experienced a workplace affair. However, despite a rising number of office affairs, 67 per cent of those having a fling tend to keep their relationship under wraps from colleagues.
Almost a third believed workmates gained a professional advantage through having an affair. The survey of 2,000 office workers divulged that half of the romances lasted more than a year.