Dating in the Workplace Should Be Discouraged (Essay Sample)

Judith Luvuno Mwaiwe Prof. Antony Gachanja Probability and Statistics September 20, 2024 Dating in the Workplace Should Be Discouraged Most matters relating to workplace relationships are usually a subject of discussion and there is merit in both arguments. Nonetheless, I have strong feelings against dating at the workplace because of the problems it brings. First, lovers in the workplace can bring bias into work situations for example falling for a colleague can make one biased in awarding contracts to that colleague's company. Second, such relationships quite naturally lead to prejudice and this is another thing that threatens team cohesion and fosters unfair competition. Finally, workplace dating can cause awkwardness between employees, setting undesirable dynamics within the work team, or even having a bad breakup. Based on such aspects it becomes important to fight against working relationships to maintain professionalism and equality in the working field. To begin with, one of the shortfalls of interpersonal relationships is that it creates a conflict of interest since one may be biased to act or make decisions in matters forthcoming. Misunderstandings can result from misunderstandings that virtual dating can cause a lot of problems if two employees are an item. For example, one of the partners might make decisions that are in some way favoring the other partner or partner's company. This can dilute accuracy and impartiality which is very important, particularly in impairment and professionalism. Employees surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management informed that 27% of them observed bias for an employee with whom their manager was in a romantic relationship (Smith 45). Secondly, conducting affairs within the workplace might create favoritism cases that bring demoralization among employees. When a manager is dating a subordinate, then it makes others to develop this opinion that the manager is biased towards that particular subordinate. Such a perception may cause the rest of the employees to feel that they are being discriminated especially when compared to the rest of the group. Some of these may be damaging to the team dynamics and lower the all-round efficiency of a project. Jones supports his above statement saying, "favoritism in the workplace may cause a toxic work environment because employees feel undervalued and demotivated"(Jones 78). Finally, relationships that may be developed at the place of work can cause tension and discomfort. If the affair goes sour, aspects of social skills clash when the two parties break up and return to work. This may truncate not only the many individuals occupying those important positions but also the others who are often caught in the crossfire of these warring entities. Also, if one party is feeling that he or she is pressured into that kind of relationship, this defines legal and ethical problems. According to the Equal Employment Opportuni...