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Workplace PDA's
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Workplace PDA's
Discuss workforce management, performance management, retention, communication, motivation, contributing to business results and other topics.
Does anyone have a policy on workplace public displays of affection?
We have a married couple here who walk to the production floor holding hands, peck on the lips goodbye and go their separate way
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » Workplace PDA's
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Workplace PDA's
posted at 10/14/2010 1:49 PM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
And what happens if the two aren't married...or what if they are married to other people? Do you step in then? Just because the two are married does NOT make this appropriate workplace behavior. And I can see way to many other iterations that COULD cause issues, so I would ask their managers to bring it to their attention. I would NOT create a policy though. Because then it looks like you are singling them out. Instead, just deal directly with the situations as they arise. HR/mgmt SHOULD have their perspective in place though....
So I sit at the table with HRPro and Dave. And I work with quite a few married couples. Haven't seen any of them PDA at work! |
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Workplace PDA's
posted at 10/21/2010 5:53 AM EDT
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Posts: 210
First: 1/4/2003 Last: 7/11/2011 |
In the HR department, we are not in the business of judging morality, so whether or not the couple is married, single, hetero/homesexual, married to other people, just doesn't matter. We care about the impact of behavior on the workplace.
When faced with personal relationships at work, we use this wording to the employees involved "...employees are expected to follow appropriate business guidelines regarding conduct at work, including refraining from displays of affection at work or work-related events." That about covers it. Though personally, I think it's nice this couple holds hands and kisses. Good for them for having a relationship with such obvious affection. |
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Workplace PDA's
posted at 10/26/2010 5:39 AM EDT
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Posts: 29
First: 6/9/2009 Last: 4/26/2011 |
"I think we are seeing the type of over reaction to relatively innocent matters that tend to categorize HR people in less than favorable light." -- From a well respected commenter on a different thread about an entirely different issue, but I think it applies here as well.
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Workplace PDA's
posted at 11/9/2010 8:52 AM EST
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Posts: 21
First: 11/21/2006 Last: 7/7/2011 |
We have a written policy at our organization that defines what is acceptable behavior in the workplace and what isn't. Basically, relationships between staff members are acceptable, while public displays of affection are not. A person isn't permitted to supervisor their spouse or any other family member, and the policy makes clear that the sexual orientation of the parties is irrelevant. The occasional hug (to comfort someone, to thank them for a birthday present, etc.) is acceptable because it's not related to affection. While there will always be gray areas, the policy works for us. There will always be some people who find just about anything offensive, and there will always be couples whose shows of affection go way too far, and that's why these policies need to exist. |
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