BUS 520: Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study
Assignment I

Angela Denise Nelson

Danielle Camacho

BUS 520: Leadership and Organizational Behavior

July 22, 2012

Workplace relationships will eventually occur as employees of all interest and backgrounds are put into a melting pot. Some say that the workplace has become the new singles bar. Also, the workplace has become a place for extramarital affairs and some same sex relationships. As people share common interest, attractions occur, eventually leading to a relationship. It is important for employers to realize that workplace relationships are going to occur and to have policies set in place. It is not a suggested practice to forbid workplace relationships, but it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the organization and to maintain a functional office environment. Unfortunately, workplace relationships can lead to accusations of poor judgment, breach of ethics, favoritism, lost of productivity, poor employee morale, sexual harassment claims and workplace violence. Consensual relationship agreements or “love contracts” should no be used as the sole means of protection from litigation, they should be used to supplement a business’s antiharassment policy, and other legalities that may occur upon the demise of the relationship. Consensual relationship agreements are written contracts in which employees involved in a workplace relationship and acknowledge the following: • Their relationship is voluntary and consensual. • They agree to abide by the employers antidiscrimination, antiharrassment, and workplace conduct policies. • They promise to report any perceived harassment to management, if it occurs. • They agree to behave professionally and not to allow the relationship to affect their productivity.