Co-workers spend a lot of time together, working and interacting with each other and, sometimes, romance develops.  Romantic relationships can create multiple issues within the workplace.  The employees involved could waste work time talking about personal matters, show inappropriate displays of affection (“PDA”) which may make others uncomfortable, and allow arguments or break-ups to affect the whole workplace.

If the romantically-involved employees are in a supervisor – subordinate relationship, even if not direct, there could also be actual or the appearance of preferential treatment.  This not only creates poor morale issues but creates legal exposure if other employees believe their schedules, wages, career progression, etc. are being negatively affected. Employers can take some actions to lay the groundwork and establish some structure before such a situation arises.