The Ultimate Mix of Business and Pleasure

Jumping into a relationship with a boss is the ultimate mix of business and pleasure.

It is common wisdom not to get involved in a romantic relationship with a superior at the workplace. Although, at times, this rule can be hard to follow when emotions get involved. 

In the beginning, it’s all romance, butterflies, and excitement. Until things so south; which they usually do.

“Workplace dating is incredibly common, given that nearly a third of our lives are spent at work.” Human resources expert, Johnny C. Taylor Jr. has learned.

In many cases, a romantic relationship with a boss or employee would violate company policy, may damage future prospects and co-worker relationships, and often ends in termination.

In Nov. 2019, the CEO of McDonalds, Steve Easterbrook, was fired after being in a consensual relationship with and employee. According to USA Today, either the employee, or the higher up, will usually have to leave the company. Especially if it’s a big company.

It is not automatically illegal for a manager or supervisor to date his or her employee; as long as the relationship doesn’t involve sexual harassment. However, it could violate other ethical or corporate policies.

Keira Dawson, 21, was employed as a server at a popular Calgary restaurant, until her one-year relationship with the owner ended. Dawson advised:

“I would never recommend to date your boss. Even if the two of you like each other, it’s better to quit your job, and then start the relationship.

“Everything is all fun and games and you even feel a sense of superiority to the other employees when you’re the owner’s girlfriend. But then when the relationship ends, then everything falls apart. 

“I had to leave my job, and everyone was talking about our break up.”

According to statistics, there is a 33% increase with boss-employee relationships in the restaurant and bar industry.

When a supervisor dates an employee, it is never a private matter. It could be disruptive to other employees, triggering questions about fairness, favoritism, transparency, credibility, and accountability.

From both business and ethical perspectives, HR experts and corporate lawyers often recommend that the employee leaves the company and pursues a career at a different company in order to separate the workplace with romantic relationships.

General manager, Sylvester Rosen, of Calgary bar, The Wednesday Room, recalled to an incident about two years ago. He, and the management team had to terminate his bar manager and a bartender for suspicions of forming a romantic relationship. 

“Our management team had to sit down and make the decision that it was inappropriate for a manager and employee to have a relationship. If they were just co-workers it would probably be a different story, but we had to eliminate the chance of any drama or people spreading rumors that would affect our business.”

            Businesses risk the chance of favoritism for the employee in question, forming a bad reputation, ethical violations, legal issues, and unintended negative consequences when there are boss-employee relationships in their establishment.

            Other staff may think that the said employee gains special advantages even if that’s not the case. This could often start gossip or ruin relationships with co-workers.

            Businesses also take the risk of staff and customers starting rumors about the establishment, which might travel to higher ups in the corporation, or competitors. 

            Carmelieta Winter, employee at Calgary hookah lounge, Fire n’ Ice, spoke on her former co-worker. “There was an employee dating the owner for almost two years. All the other staff would always talk about it, especially when they would fight. Their business was basically all of our business, and pretty much everyone that would come as a customer knew about their relationship.

            “After they broke up, they didn’t fire her because they were scared of any sexual harassment charges so they just stopped scheduling her for a while and eventually, she quit.”

            In many cases, after a boss-employee relationship ends, the employee may file sexual harassment lawsuits against their former partner. The law covers any unwelcome sexual behavior: request for sexual favors, words or actions that create a hostile or uncomfortable environment, or any type of unwelcome advances. Even if the relationship is consensual, it could be hard to prove without a doubt, that there was no unwelcome sexual behavior involved.

            At Calgary nightclub Sub Rosa, the head manager had a relationship with a hostess. After their relationship ended, the hostess charged her manager/ former partner with sexual harassment. The manager got deported to Portugal due to the charge.

            “It became like a soap opera at work because our manager was married with two children, and he was having an affair with an employee.” Ariana Roca disclosed.

            “Eventually, after he got charged, he got fired and so did she.

            “Needless to say, the whole situation did not end well.”