How to Manage a Workplace Romance

“So what’s going on with you and Marcus?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Sounds like drama…”

Sound familiar? For many managers, those two words are a nightmare, but they don’t have to be! When handled correctly, workplace romances don’t have to disrupt workflows and cause undue stress or drama. But if left unaddressed, they can turn into an HR disaster fraught with conflict, favoritism, and even employee turnover.

This simple checklist provides some guidelines for how managers can address romantic relationships between subordinates, and it gives guidance for employees that are involved in workplace romances. The checklist contains a list of best practices to address romances, and provides steps on how to avoid potential drama and eliminate any possible accusations of favoritism.

So what kind of workplace romances are allowed? When should I tell HR about an office romance? Who in the office can I talk to about my romance? This checklist provides the answers to these questions and more.