Not all of us have returned to the workplace. Some employers have encouraged their employees to keep working from home. Others have planned “The Great Return To The Workplace” but had to hold off because of the Omicron variant surge. Digital professionals definitely have the option to keep working from home indefinitely. And those who have returned to the office are busy hyper-vigilantly cleaning surfaces and staying away from crowded and confined spaces. Since close physical proximity is not an available option, is the covid crisis the last blow to office romance?
Surprise, surprise! Office romance is actually on the rise. Data from Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) show that workers who are currently involved in a workplace romance have risen. One of their key findings from the 2021 survey is that approximately “one quarter of U.S. workers either began a new workplace romance during the COVID-19 pandemic or have continued an existing workplace romance that began prior to the pandemic.”
How is this even possible when co-workers only get to check in on each other through virtual spaces? SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr explains: “During a period where we’re spending more time isolated than together, workers are looking for meaningful connections.” While proximity might not be possible, care and warmth can still be felt and shown through any virtual medium. It just goes to show that love transcends time and space.
Romantic entanglements in the workplace are nothing new. It’s the stuff that rom-coms and award-winning comedy series are made of. The fan favorite movie, “Love Actually” has at least 5 work-romance-related story arcs. The hit series “The Office” had us following Pam and Jim’s love story for nine seasons. However, real-life workplace romances don’t always end happily ever after. That is why we often remind new hires during anti-harassment training that romantic relationships at work can cause problems for both employers and employees.
Office romance is an inevitable part of working and most companies recognize that. While a zero-tolerance policy for workplace romance is ideal, it is not realistically enforceable. In fact, a good 78% of employers do not require their employees to disclose a romantic relationship. However, professionalism must always prevail above all else in the workplace in order to keep working relationships and workplaces running smoothly. Since child labor is illegal, it is safe to say that we’re all adults here and do not have to be reminded that everyone in the workplace is expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times. Therefore, public displays of affection, even in virtual settings (yes, it happens) should be out of the question.
It is in the best interest of employers, especially HR professionals, to update their implemented guidelines and policies regarding workplace romance to mitigate incidents of favoritism, retaliation, and sexual harassment and ultimately adapt to the ever-evolving workplace culture.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp