Sexual relationships can negatively impact objective decision making in the workplace. When people are in close proximity to each other for long periods of time, it is easy for them to form sexual bonds that may influence their judgment when making decisions about one another's performance. This can lead to unfairness in appraisals and conflict resolution processes because individuals who are romantically involved may be more inclined to give preferential treatment to each other than those who are not part of the relationship.
If an employee has a crush on his supervisor and receives positive feedback from her, he may feel entitled to continue working under her leadership despite his lack of competence. Similarly, if a manager has been involved with an employee, she may give him favorable reviews even though his performance does not merit it just so he will stay in her good graces. Moreover, when conflicts arise between co-workers who have had a past intimate encounter, they may find it difficult to remain impartial in resolving the dispute since their feelings may interfere with their ability to assess the situation objectively. Consequently, managers should take extra caution when assigning employees to projects or responsibilities that require them to interact closely with each other as this could create opportunities for sexual tension which can undermine neutrality.
Another example of how sexual relationships affect workplace dynamics is when two colleagues become romantically involved but later break up. If they still need to collaborate on work together, there is potential for animosity and resentment towards each other due to hurt feelings stemming from the end of the relationship. This can make communication between them challenging which could negatively impact their productivity and team morale overall. In some cases, one party might use sexual relations as leverage during negotiations over promotions or raises which would also compromise fairness in compensation decisions.
If one person's partner leaves the company suddenly, there may be questions about whether they were dismissed due to improper conduct rather than job performance or skill level.
Having a strict policy against dating among coworkers helps maintain professionalism while ensuring everyone receives equal treatment regardless of personal preferences.
How do sexual relationships threaten neutrality in performance assessments and conflict arbitration?
A recent study found that 60% of people who were asked about their experiences with performance appraisals admitted to experiencing bias towards individuals with whom they had previously engaged in intimate relationships. This bias may be due to various factors such as attraction, jealousy, familiarity, and loyalty. These emotions can lead to unfair judgement on an individual's performance level or even favoritism toward them.