Fraternization Policy Sample for the Workplace

Fraternization Policy Sample for the Workplace Fraternization Policy Sample for the Workplace The dating or fraternization policy adopted by an organization reflects the culture of the organization. Employee-oriented, forward-thinking workplaces recognize that one of the places that employees meet their eventual spouse or partner is at work.   These relationships make sense because of the commonalities that co-workers share such as proximity to work, the actual work, the amount of time one spends at work, and the interests underlying ones  career chose. Friendships and romances can also  affect the workplace positively adding to the sense of teamwork and camaraderie. But, relationships can also go awry and result in friction and conflict at work. It can affect the team, the department, and even the mood of the organization when stress permeates the air. Minimizing Impact The key to a fraternization policy is to minimize the impact of the things that can go wrong in the workplace while maximizing the powerfully positive aspects of employee relationships. You also want to identify the relationships that are forbidden because of their potential impact at work. As with any policy, you should develop the policy for the good of the working relationships in a whole group of employees. Dont put a policy in place to control the behavior of a few employees whose behavior is out of line. Its worth noting that the consequence of a too-restrictive policy is that fraternization policies that prohibit even friendships and associations outside of work cause employees to deceive and cover-up. They also encourage gossip, job dissatisfaction, and low morale. Contents of Fraternization Policies A fraternization policy needs to have the following components: It must prohibit romantic relationships between a manager and a reporting staff member.It should prohibit dating relationships between employees who are separated by two levels in the chain of command  regardless of the reporting relationship or department.It must define the romantic and friendship behavior that is acceptable and what is not acceptable.The policy must state the potential consequences of breaking the policy.It must provide courses of action that leave an employee with opportunities to understand and follow the policy. SampleDating or Fraternization Policy The following is a sample of a dating or fraternizing policy that you can use as is or alter to fit your needs: Company employees may date and develop friendships and relationships with other employees- both inside and outside of the workplace- as long as the relationships dont have a  negative impact on their work or the work of others.Any relationship that interferes with the company culture of teamwork, the harmonious work environment or the productivity of employees, will be addressed by applying the progressive discipline policy  up to and including employment termination.Adverse workplace behavior- or behavior that affects the workplace that arises because of personal relationships- will not be tolerated. Anyone employed in a managerial or supervisory role needs to heed the fact that personal relationships with employees who report them may be perceived as favoritism, misuse of authority, or potentially, sexual harassment.Additionally, for the same reason above no employee may date another employee who is separated by more than one level in the chain of command. This includes an employee who reports to their bosses counterpart in another department.Additionally, any fraternization with any employee who reports to the manager or whose terms and conditions of employment such as  pay raises, promotions, and advancement are potentially affected by the manager, is prohibited. The fraternization that is prohibited by this policy includes dating, romantic involvement, and sexual relations; close friendships are discouraged in any reporting relationship.Employees who disregard this policy will  receive disciplinary actions  up to and including  employment termination. Consequences of Dating and Extra-marital Affairs A manager or supervisor who dates or becomes romantically involved with an employee creates a serious problem for the company. Dating an employee, and extramarital affairs, even when the employee is not in a reporting relationship, creates serious consequences for the company. It can affect the careers of both employees with regard to advancement opportunities, choices of jobs, and assignments. Clearly, these relationships can result in charges of sexual harassment, years or decades after the fact. If a manager decides to pursue a close relationship with an employee, he or she needs to inform their manager and Human Resources immediately. The company will then decide what, if any, actions are necessary to take in regard to assignments and jobs. Employees have different definitions and understandings  of what constitutes a close relationship, a friendship, or romantic involvement. Consequently, if you have questions or need further clarification, talk with the head of the Human Resources department. Their goal of implementing policies consistently and fairly will help inform your choices.