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ARTICLE · 07 JUNE 2018

Office relationships: managing the hidden dangers with workplace love

Bartier Perry Solicitors
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Office relations happen, so employers and employees should work together to avoid conflicts, poor morale and fall out.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
James Mattson
James Mattson
Claire Limbach (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
Claire Limbach (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
Author LinkedIn connections

Office relationships and breakups provide much gossip around the water-cooler. As we have seen in recent years, it also provides fodder for the media. Office relationships and the fall out, have the capacity to detrimentally affect decision-making, morale and reputations.

Earlier this year, the Australian Parliament was embroiled with a scandal involving the Deputy Prime Minister, a staffer and their relationship. How to respond? A 'bonk-ban'. Such a "grey area", as someone intimately involved once said.

The fact is, many relationships are formed at work. Relationships Australia reports that up to 40% of people aged 35-50 years will develop a long term relationship with a co-worker. Many workplace relationships end up in marriage and committed unions. Can an employer really prevent workplace relationships?

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