The Hidden Pitfalls of Office Romance: Navigating Professional Boundaries

It is not unusual for professional relationship to blossom into romance. Sometimes, when colleagues spend time together working, things could get personal between them when they begin to relax the boundaries that exist between them. Emotional feelings can set in when colleagues start having engagements outside of their professional scope. The more that they share personal stuffs, the more that they are likely to get emotionally attached to each other. These are some reasons why office romance should be discouraged:

Conflict of Interest

When two colleagues are dating, the professional conducts can be compromised by their personal relationship. Their relationship can create room for partial assessments, favoritism, or unequal treatment especially if one has a higher position than the other. Friction could arise when other colleagues notice that their boss is treating their equal with favoritism. This could lead to office gossip and tension.

Reduced Productivity

Office romance can lead to low performance at workplace especially if the lovers are too engrossed in their emotional feelings for each other. Their romance can cause them to lose focus leading to reduced productivity. Their output and concentration can be hampered by emotional upheaval caused by tension between them. Distractions caused by workplace relationships can affect the company’s progression.

Tension and Gossip

Romantic relationships at work are always blighted by gossips among staff. Gossips among colleagues could lead to tension or awkwardness. This could also put the lovers involved under a lot of pressure due to the scrutiny their relationship is subjected to. Risk of impending squabbles can arise when other staff feel that their colleague is enjoying favoritism from their boss due to their intimate relationship. It could cause unconducive environment at the workplace.

Power Imbalance

Some people are coerced to enter into an office relationship with their superior out of fear of victimisation or sack. The unemployment rate is very high in Nigeria plus her weak justice system, so some subordinates are coerced into being in a relationship with their superior because of fear of being sacked, the chances of getting another job immediately is very remote especially if it is a lucrative one.

Negative Impact on Team Progress

Relationships at work place are capable of altering team unity. This challenge becomes very glaring if the relationship compromises decision-making, communication and team work. Team morale can be badly affected if team members begin to feel undervalued or isolated by their superior as a result of his/her relationship with their peer.

Risk of Harrassment Allegations

There are chances of harassment claims if a workplace relationship ends badly. These allegations are likely to be made by the subordinate against the superior if the ex lovers are not at the same position at work. This could result to the company facing litigation by the aggrieved party. Other employees who feel that strongly against romantic relationship at workplace may also come up with their harrassment allegations against the superior who had previously accused of harrassment.

Emotional Stress

The end of office romance and it’s emotional baggage may find it’s way to the office. The professional relationship of the ex lovers may affected by the breakup leaving them stressed out. This could greatly affected their performance and the team cohesion. The bad blood between that ex lovers at the office can also create a toxic environment.

Conclusion

Most corporate companies have set up policies that regulate office romance especially between superiors and subordinates. Polices regulating office relationships are formulated to check the problems that can arise from them or affect the smooth running of the company.