Dear Faculty Relations – There has been headline news about the reckoning over office romances. Is it okay to date someone in my unit? - Interested in a relationship
Dear Interested in a relationship – There can be both benefits and challenges of dating someone at work, and while we can’t get into all the factors that might need to be considered, I would like to address a few essential items.
You need to be cognizant of the policies on harassment. Harassment is broadly considered any unwelcome or offensive verbal, written, or physical conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or ability to do their job. The law outlines protected categories of identity, and sex and gender are included. Sexual harassment is one type of misconduct and can be considered harassment even if a person engaging in behaviors did not intend harm. You want to take extra care to ensure that your efforts to find a relationship at work are not considered unprofessional or harassing. Flirting, compliments, certain language, or other comments can be a problem if they are unwelcome, offensive, or deemed unprofessional.
The other important consideration is the university policy on conflict of interest in cases of amorous (i.e., consensual romantic or sexual) relationships. Dating someone at work can be okay if there is no evaluative authority, meaning one person in the relationship has oversight over the other. The relationship is allowed, but it must be disclosed immediately, and the evaluative authority must be removed. These rules apply whenever an evaluative authority occurs within seven years of an amorous relationship, whether the relationship is ongoing or has ended, so it’s good to keep your past and future in mind when it comes to a potential conflict.
All of this does not mean that an office romance isn’t possible, but it does require thoughtfulness, integrity, and skill. We spend a lot of time at work, and the dynamics of a department are critical to productivity and our sense of being valued by our colleagues and the university.
Written by Teresa Wroe, Senior Director of Education and Prevention/Deputy Title IX Coordinator, May 2022