Relationships among workplace peers are the most common type of organizational relationships. At times, these platonic relationships turn romantic which are often regarded as an organizational issue. A workplace romance (WR) is defined as a no-platonic bond between two members of an organization in which both sexual attraction and affection is present (Cowan & Horan, 2014). WRs are common in organizations. According to a poll by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), found that 40% of employees had been involved in a WR at some point in their careers (Cowan & Horan, 2014). The SHRM also found that over 70% of organizations do not have policies that prohibit WR. One of the most concerning questions that arises regarding workplace …show more content…
A lateral romance is a relationship between employees of equal status. A hierarchical romance is where two employees are at different organizational levels. For example, when a manager is romantically involved with his or her subordinate. Hierarchical WR are more frequent and more problematic than lateral romances due to the power differences between the partnership (Wilson, 2015). Research has also identified a number of different motives for engaging in a WR. It may be: a love motive- a sincere desire to seek a long-term relationship, an ego motive- a desire to seek adventure, excitement, sexual experience or a job-related motive- a desire to seek security, power, financial rewards (Wilson, 2015). Power is a key variable in understanding the effects and consequences of the romance. It acts as a function of the dependence of each partner on the other for resources that are exchanged in the relationship. Workplace behavior is affected when there is an unbalanced power relation, however when the power relationship is balanced, both members are equally committed to their organizational and personal roles (Pierce et al., …show more content…
Prior studies acknowledge and examine how coworkers describe WR and their reactions. However there is a lack of research understanding what the couples themselves think about how they are treated as a couple. For example, research shows there are negative attitudes from other employees towards couples in the workplace romance and that other employees may see a couple as a power coalition. Are they being treated like one and the same person? Do the couples feel that people at work treat them as an invincible duo with extra power, rather than as two separate individuals with more limited
When thinking about romantic relationships, whether in the movies, media or your own relationship what characteristics come to mind? The topic we will discuss in this presentation attends to the romantic relationships within interpersonal communication.
Although “The Orientation” and The Office highlight reasons that dysfunctional office relationships exist, “The Orientation” does so to
There is no greater illusion of reality, to man, than the act of seduction because at its core, seduction optimizes illusion. There is a place in the brain of man that drives him to develop his own understanding of the world. He does not understand it so he seeks stability in himself through a series of manipulations that develop a sense of alpha superiority- creating a self-made god of his own universe. Seduction is the process that he uses to achieve this. It is primal, it is ritualistic and it is engaging enough that man buys in fully to the invitation to indulge his ego.
...enetration. The area and degree of information the parties shared paired with a cost-benefit motivational factor produced an intimate relationship not commonly seen in the work environment. Privacy coordination also played a role in Lewis’ relational closeness with her husband and colleague. Lewis and Bristler’s or any ‘work spouse’ relationship may be the result of social penetration.
Fraternization in the workplace is often not thought of as an ethical issue; however, in some cases it may be. Fraternization, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as spending time with a person in a way that may be considered inappropriate. There are many reasons that fraternizing is believed to exist. One reason for that is working long hours and being at work with coworkers more than at home with family. Dating in the workplace does not always cause problems, but it can lead to distraactions for those involved and for those on the outside fo the relationship.
Workplace romance is an issue that has been causing employers to create and enforce a No-Fraternization Policy. A No-Fraternization Policy is sometimes called a “Love Contract,” according to Kathryn Taylor from Society for Humans Resource Management (2008). A love contract is a policy that is signed by those involved in the relationship and the employer. This contract is a testimony stating that the relationship is consensual and voluntary by both. Many employees would say this is an invasion of their privacy but to others, including myself, it’s a protection for them and for the company. The No-Fraternization Policy is valuable because it helps reduce the possibility of harassment, favoritism, and will help keep productivity at a healthy level.
Hoobler, J., Wayne, S., & Lemmon, G. (2009). Boss' Perceptions of Family-Work Conflict and Women's Promotability: Glass Ceiling Effects. Academy of Management Journal, 52(5), 939-957.
“In 2011, there were 11,364 complaints of sexual harassment made to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 84 percent filed by women and 16 percent filed by men” (aauw.org). Sexual harassment in the workplace is very serious and is unacceptable at all places of employment throughout the US. Individuals should be able to show up to work without the fear of an individual sexually harassing them. “Sexual harassment of men does occur, though there is less information about the problem because men are less likely to report the behavior.” (workharassment.net). Aside from sexual harassment are workplace relationships. There are good workplace relationships, and there are bad workplace relationships. How can victims of sexual harassment in their workplace put a stop to the inappropriate behavior? What is classified as a good workplace relationship, and a bad one? In my paper I will discuss sexual harassment in the workplace, and what one can do when they feel they are being harassed. Also, I will discuss the good and the bad of workplace relationships.
Should such policies forbid superior-subordinate relationships? Yes, there should be a policy that forbids superior subordinate relationships. This would be stated in the employee handbook that this is forbidden. Coworkers would find it easier to claim that an employee received preferential treatment from a supervisor he or she is dating. If the relationship ended badly, one of the employees could claim that the relationship was non-consensual, or that sexual harassment existed. Anyone who is employed in a managerial or supervisory role who has personal relationships with employees who report to him or her may be viewed as favoritism, misuse of authority, or sexual harassment. The relationship will appear to other employees as an inappropriate use of position power (Heathfield,
Throughout the one-hour-and-a-half observation much data was collected and stored for further investigation. Gender roles and power/authority were the two sociological concepts observed and applied to the analysis of this particular study. The four forms of groups examined were intimate couple, friends, single person and families. The field observation was concerned with the comparison between these different groups' interactions.
Overall, we can see that 200 years later we are still attempting to escape from the gender line created through society’s image of men and women. Men and women still fail to communicate their feelings within their relationships, resulting in an overall unhealthy marriage. Today women and men attempt to challenge these gender stereotypes by taking on the roles of the opposite gender, but like in the “Yellow Wallpaper” are immediately met with “heavy opposition” and disapproval through the process. Although we may seem as though we are improving in escaping from the gendered stereotypes, the past will always be recurrent in a majority of relationships today if dominance within the relationship is not equally balance between both sexes.
In analyzing the aspect of attraction, we take a look at attraction from the perspective of Elaine Hatfield and Ellen Berscheid. Hatfield and Berscheid are American social psychologists whose work has helped to provide insight into what we now know about relationship science. According to Hatfield and Berscheid’s theory on interpersonal attraction, people are attracted to one another for four main reasons. Each reason presented helps to develop the reasons for attraction and relational differences between Landon and Jamie.
...rsity of Missouri: Extramarital Affairs in the Workplace (PDF): An extensive article examining the effects of extramarital affairs in the workplace.
The way we perceive ourselves in relation to the rest of the world influences our behaviors and our beliefs. The opinions we have of others also affect our behavior and how we view ourselves within different social contexts. Social Psychologists are interested in all aspects of interpersonal attraction and the ways that psychology can improve those interactions (“Understanding” n.d.). The social research being conducted “…can help us acknowledge how we form attitudes towards other people within our lives, and in the case that these formed attitudes could be detrimental, how to allow understanding in order to conform” (“Understanding” n.d.). Social Psychologists have studied interpersonal relationships for years trying to understand how they
The four distinct types of behaviors included nominal, going with, social, and extensive. Going with is related to couples that do not a large deal of experience in dating, but want to attempt to be labeled as being a couple. Nominal and going with are indicative of individuals who are still attempt to reach a sexual relationship. Extensive is when a individual investments a great deal of time as to suggests a high level of commitment and willingness to enter a long term relationship. Paik and Woodley’s study is mainly concerned with the role that courtship behaviors play in onset of a sexual relationship. However, their study is important because it demonstrates that even when both potential partners are mainly concerned with having a sexual relationship they still gauge whom to approach and who to allow to approach them based on courtship signals. This may suggest that even if the intent is to have a long term or short-term relationship is one’s goal courtship signals are an important part in deciding whether or not to pursue a potential