...analysis of the Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study Assignment 1 By: STUDENT NAME: Arlette Lamsa To: Dr. Evangeline Jefferson Professor: COURSE NAME: Bus 520: Leadership and organization Behavior STRAYER UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC January, 2013 Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study Introduction: The purpose of this project is to examine the Consensual Relationship Agreement case study. By Definition, consensual relationship Agreement indicates an agreement read and signed by both Employers and employees by highlighting and confirming an obviously romantic relationship between both parties. The use of consensual relationship Agreement policy in general at the workplace, is fundamental for the employers and also employees. In many organizations, employees are in risks of potentials sexual harassments. But inevitably, some workers engage in a romance adventure at the office. Sometimes those romances end in a not so good term with pretty bad consequences. According to Hellriegel and Slocum (2011), the characteristics of a consensual Relationship agreement is defined as contract that set boundaries on certain office romance situations. They go as the following: decreasing sexual harassment litigation risk, reducing perceptions of favoritism, creating a forum to discuss professional workplace behavior, and reminding dating employees the lack of privacy in the workplace. This is to ensure all relationships are voluntary...
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...Consensual Relationship Agreements Strayer University Robert Guest Dr. Larry Hughes BUS520 In many and most large organizations the possibilities of a relationship is a very real situation. Spending at least most cases 40 plus hours a week which is more than most individuals spend at home or out looking for relationships gives a person the ability to create closer relationships with the opposite sex at the work place then it would anywhere else. Because of this there have been many opinions on whether or not to make the use of Consensual Relationship Agreements a standard practice among the work place. In today’s workplaces many organizations either prohibit or sway against any romantic engagements with other employees within their workplaces however, there are other companies that tend to let it happen and look the other way. According to the Society for Human Resources Management had no policy regarding the workplace relationship (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2010). This was until the adoption of the Consensual Relationship Agreements that turned into a contract for employees to ensure they are not allowing any workplace relationships reduce the efficiency of their work and also to protect the organizations from any legal issues that may arise from the involvement of employees and the possibility of bad breakups from relationships. A Consensual Relationship Agreement is an contract between a employee and management that states that the employee will not allow...
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...are going to discuss about consensual relationship agreements at work place. This is an issue that every work place and human resource management has to deal with. For this purpose the case study is analyzed on the said parameters while focusing over non-ethical difficulties. The Consensual Relationship Agreement refers to the romance and love relationships of the employees at work place. Different views have been surfaced during the course of subject study regarding the consensual relationship agreement as some are at the view that the agreement should be signed by every employee and would be effective for the organizational and employees’ performance while on the other hand some are at view point that the love and romance relationship of employees are their personal matter and should not be kept under observation by the employers (Hellriegel, 2011). In order to reach at the destination and achieve the said objectives the subject study has focused over numerous bullets including main but not limited to the use of consensual relationship agreement, creating counter arguments against the use of CRAs in existing or future organizations selected, discussing the ethical principles involved in Consensual Relationship Agreement in the United States, other options addressing the workplace romance and so forth. The subject study is conducted based on the theoretical research design using the secondary sources of data (Alderman, 1995). Consensual Relationship Agreement – Arguments: In...
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...Consensual Relationship Agreements: A Case Study Zachary -- Dr. Kimberly A Carter BUS520 Leadership and Organizational Behavior April 22, 2012 Consensual Relationship Agreements: A Case Study Introduction A consensual relationship agreement is a written contract between coworkers used by their employer to publicly disclose a romantic relationship. The purpose of this contract is to protect the employer from future litigation in the event that the said relationship goes bad or to address office favoritism in play of a romance between superiors and subordinates. Some may argue that the agreements provide legal protection for all parties involved; others may feel that their employer has no right to meddle in their private lives. While there are alternatives to these “love contracts,” most companies do adopt some policy on workplace romances in order to abide by ethical principles and avoid costly lawsuits and hostile work environments. Arguments for consensual relationship agreements A 2004 survey by Human and Legal Resources interviewed over 1,000 workers in the United Kingdom of which 66% claimed to have participated in workplace romances (Easen, 2004), of which some have become long term relationships and even marriages. While there are many who, in attempts to keep their professional and private lives separate, choose to keep their relationships a secret from others in the workplace, in the event the relationship is revealed the couple may be asked to sign...
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...Running head: Consensual Relationship Contract Leadership and Organizational Behavior-BUS 520 LaDonna Oliver Instuctor: Dr. Elizabeth Strayer University July 19, 2012 Abstract With employees spending more time together in the workplace, consensual relationships are becoming more common in the workplace. This workplace romance has caused major concerns for companies and their human resource professionals. This ongoing behavior has existed many decades and is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. According to a survey by Vault.com,47 percent of 1000 professionals survey had been involved in an office romance, and another 19 percent would consider it (Hellriegel, Slocum 2009) Michelle and Barack Obama, Bill and Melinda Gates, Olivia Chow and the late Jack Layton are a few of the many employees who met in the work place and later married. The workplace continues to be the foundation of which many healthy relationships are established, yet those relationships gone badly have resulted in consequence for the employee as well the employer, whereas costly and timely claims of sexual harassment cost employers millions of dollars. Scandals such as Charles Thomas/Anita Hill, Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinski, and Joe Patrino/Jessica Dorrell just to name a few have tainted the ethic culture of the workplace. In an effort to reduce romance in the workplace, an increasing numbers of employers are instituting consensual relationship...
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...Consensual Relationship Agreements – Case Study Dr. Professor Jeffrey Weaver BUS 520 – Leadership and Organizational Behavior January 19, 2013 Consensual Relationship Agreements There are many challenges in the workplace. Office romance today is having to profound effect on corporate attitudes, values, and beliefs. The workplace has become a viable meeting ground for individuals to get to know each other, date, and begin a romantic relationship. People tend to feel more comfortable dating a co-worker than someone they met at a bar or nightclub. According to a major report on interpersonal attraction written in 1969 by Ellen Bercheid and Elaine Walster, professors of Psychology at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin, proximity is an important factor that explains why people become attracted to others. A February 15, 1988, Newsweek article reported that office romances are especially common in those professions in which employees are expected to spend long hours together on the job (Mainiero, 1989). This tends to put employers in a difficult position. Should workplace romance be managed or is any business of the company? Employers tend to take different stances when it comes to workplace romance. Some companies strictly forbid it, while some companies ignore it and hope that no one claims sexual harassment. Lastly, some companies have come up with policies that require disclosure of the relationship so that the employer can document the voluntary...
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...Workplace romance is defined as a mutually desired relationship that includes physical attraction between two members of the same organization. Workplace romance is consensual and mutually welcomed (Clarke 2006). More specifically, as with other romances, workplace romances are characterized by desiring to be with the other person and feelings of emotional and physical attraction, which may lead to a sharing of personal information, mutual caring and respect, and quite likely sexual behavior such as touching, kissing and hugging, and sexual intercourse (Pierce, Byrne, and Aguinis 1996). Consensual relationship agreements, in my opinion, are a good idea for the workplace. They help ensure that even if a relationship goes bad between a person of authority and a subordinate, no one will be held legally liable. Signing a consensual relationship agreement does not cause either party to waive all of their rights regarding sexual harassment or other wrongful behavior that might evolve at a later date. However, it may include an arbitration provision. If any adversarial action is later contemplated, the matter must be resolved through arbitration proceedings and not the public court system. This has been an issue many times in the past with co-workers fraternizing with each other and later filing lawsuits because the relationship did not work out as planned. Consensual relationship agreements are just an ingenious way of protecting both parties from any legal woes that...
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...Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study Strayer University Leadership and Organizational Behavior Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study 1. Argue for the use of Consensual Relationship Agreements (CRAs) in your current (or future) workplace. A consensual relationship agreement, according to DeMaria, is an agreement that “requires both individuals to acknowledge the following: the relationship is voluntary and consensual; they understand the company's policy against harassment; they will keep the relationship discreet to avoid claims of favoritism, and they will both conduct themselves professionally at work if the relationship comes to an end” (2011, p. 19). If two adults with common interests meet and are attracted to each other, they are likely to date. They can’t help that the workplace is where they meet. I think enforcing the use of consensual relationship agreements in my future workplace is a good idea. It would be a benefit to the company because it will protect both the company and all involved parties from a potential lawsuit should the relationship turn for the worse. Encouraging employees who date to sign a consensual relationship agreement, also known as a love contract, in my future workplace could be seen as an added benefit to working with the company. The company would be protected against a sexual harassment lawsuit because it was properly documented that the relationship was consensual and the sexual harassment policies were thoroughly...
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...Assignment 1 Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study BUS 520 Leadership & Organizational Behavior Dr. Hammad ElBedour Razi Abdalla 10/28/2012 Consensual relationships are one of the biggest obstacles organizations must overcome in the workplace. They could be defined clearly as one in which both parties consented to the relationship - agreed to it, however when it comes to the work place it can be better defined as romantic, amorous and/or sexual relationships between consenting employees. Today, more men and women are working together than at any point in U.S. history. Sometimes sexual attraction in the working environment is clearly mutual, sometimes it is well-concealed, and sometimes it is very difficult to determine. So that’s why there has been workplace policies being put out on most organizations around the world like Consensual Relationship Agreements (CRA). Although it is more or less a new theory that is being implemented in a lot of organizations, it is being implemented fast. I am working in the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in The United States; it is a segment of the Saudi Arabian embassy. In the organization I work in Consensual Relationship Agreements are not yet implemented officially as in there no contract binding the relationship but it is also implemented. Working in a conservative organization where the culture is different from US culture puts several environmental pressures that could relate to a Consensual Relationship Agreement...
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...Consensual Relationship Agreements Consensual Relationship Contracts are often referred to as “Love Contracts.” These contracts are fairly new and have only recently been introduced into the workforce; they date back approximately to six or seven years ago. (Kellog forum) A consensual relationship agreement (CRA) is a written contract in which many companies are now presenting to employees who are romantically involved, within the same company. The contracts are often presented by human resources and the parties involved are asked to voluntarily sign them. Not to only protect the companies interest but the employees as well. The “Love Contracts” are being implemented by companies to assure that company policies and company conduct ethics are not breached by the romantic involvement between two of its employees. Workplace romances and relationships are becoming more commonplace as work hours are becoming longer and the concept of “team building” is become more widespread in the workforce. Most companies at some time used to have policies that prohibited interoffice dating. Now many experts warn against such policies stating that the outcome often concluded with employees rebelling against the policy and dating for the thrill. (Hellriegel, Slocum 65) Corporate culture had to become more flexible due to the change in the dynamics of their employees. In an environment where individuals with common interests are working in close proximity for 40 or more hours per week, an office...
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...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...
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...Running Head: Consensual Relationship Agreements Consensual Relationship Agreements Khristin Graves Peggy Terhune Organizational Behavior 10/28/2012 As we all know most jobs frown upon inner office relationships. Inner office relationships can complicate the work environment in a variety of was. These include but are not limited to sexual harassment suits or inappropriate behavior conducted by employees while on the job. So what are we to do with no time to look for love and it being against the rules at the one place we spend most of our time? I propose consensual relationship agreements or (CRA’s) a written contract in which romantically involved parties acknowledge and agree that there relationship is voluntary and consensual. (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011) Let me explain the benefits of the consensual relationship agreements. 1. No one will need to sneak around this will stop rumors from spreading and keep the focus on work and not on office related gossip. Gossip and rumors create additional problems for a company and its employees. Gossip and rumors can bring down morale and even harm the people that the rumors are about. This is not what the work place is for so doing what we can to prevent distractions in the workplace is crucial. 2. The company is now aware of what’s going on and can better regulate any signs of harassment or favoritism that would occur among the parties. (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011) The problems that can caused by an employee benefiting...
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...Organizational Behavior, Dr. Wilkerson Week 3, Assignment 1 Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study April 22, 2012 Tiffany Hurt Reference page 1. Organizational Behavior – Hellriegel/Slocum 2011 Custom edition In my current workplace, I believe that having a Consensual Relationship Agreement (CRA) in place would be beneficial to the agency. Considering all the training, we now have to take pertaining to sexual harassment, ethics, and security, etc. having the Consensual Relationship Agreement in place could cut down on various lawsuits, and sexual harassment claims filed by employees, saving the agency time and money with investigating employees when time and money can be spent more productively within the agency. I have witnessed a few relationships develop within our agency and a few resulted in marriage but those relationships were kept very quiet and no one was aware the individuals were dating. In my opinion the only way the couples were not scrutinized is because they kept their relationships a secret and they were very lucky and professional with one another while in the workplace so that no coworkers were able to detect they were dating one another. It is a given fact that individuals spend more time at work then at home, which sometimes results in relationships being developed when your spend vast amounts of time with coworkers on projects, and work assignments. Employees’ start to form basic relationships with coworkers and bonds began to form with one another...
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...| Consensual Relationship Agreement | | | The office seems to be a hotbed of romance and a more effective one than dating Web sites or the corner bar. The social nature of many workplaces provides the perfect environment to get to know your co-workers. Between get-togethers every Friday after work with alcohol, food, and possibly music (which leads to dancing) and the softball and volleyball teams, barbeques and pot lucks, there are plenty of opportunities for employees to enjoy each other’s company. HR Solutions’ 2009 National Normative data confirms that 88 percent of all workers strongly feel the people they work with are friendly. We all spend so much time at work and are often attracted to people who share common interests; it only makes sense that one of these very friendly co-workers is going to eventually jump to the top of your dating to-do list. A study by Vault.com shows that almost half of us have been romantically tied to someone at work and that workplace relationships often can be successful; roughly one-quarter result in long-term relationships and even marriage. It is believed that people are more likely to date a coworker in the office rather than someone outside of the workplace. Although, romantic relationships are common in the office, many employers are increasingly turning to consensual relationship agreements. A Consensual Relationship Agreement (CRA) is essentially a written “contract” in which the romantically involved parties acknowledge...
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...Regulating Work Place Romances By At some time during your working life, you may have dated, or even married, someone you met at work. If you haven't, then the odds are that you know someone who has. A 1995 survey estimated that 80 percent of all employees have either observed or been involved in a romantic relationship at work. 1. The Problems with Employee Dating Even though romantic relationships in the workplace are common, employers have legitimate reasons for concern about employee dating. The biggest fear is a sexual harassment lawsuit arising from either: 1) a supervisor who has a habit of asking subordinates out on dates; 2) an employee who files a lawsuit after a consensual relationship goes sour; or 3) the perception of co-workers that a supervisor is playing favorites with his or her "significant other." Sexual harassment laws prohibit "unwelcome" sexual advances. Therefore, the participants in a truly "consensual" relationship cannot prove sexual harassment. The difficulty for the employer is proving that the relationship was consensual. Often, an employee will argue that he or she was an unwilling participant in a relationship that merely appeared to be consensual. Even a consensual relationship, if it goes sour, can result in unwelcome advances, stalking, or other predatory conduct. In a consensual relationship between a supervisor and a subordinate, the subordinate often is the recipient of preferential treatment. Employees have asserted claims for...
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