Sexual attraction is an instinctive drive that causes individuals to become physically and/or romantically attracted to one another. This attraction manifests itself through physical and behavioral actions such as flirting, eye contact, touching, hugging, kissing, etc.
When this attraction occurs between colleagues or supervisors and subordinates at work, it has serious implications for recognizing, evaluating, and appraising employees' performance.
When there is a sexual attraction between superiors and their subordinates, it can create an uncomfortable atmosphere wherein the superior may feel tempted to favor the employee based solely on their physical appearance rather than their actual performance level. In some cases, they may even promote them just because they are more attractive to them sexually. The problem arises if these employees do not meet the required standards to perform their job effectively. It can result in lower productivity levels within the organization due to disgruntled employees who feel unfairly treated.
Another way in which sexual attraction distorts recognition, evaluation, and appraisal of employee performance is by creating power imbalances. When there is a sexual relationship between a superior and a subordinate, it creates an uneven power dynamic in the workplace. As a result, the superior may find it difficult to objectively evaluate the subordinate's performance since they may be emotionally invested in the relationship. They may also hesitate to provide constructive feedback or reprimand the employee for poor performance out of fear of damaging the relationship. The result is that the employee may continue underperforming without being held accountable, leading to further deterioration of team morale and productivity.
Sexual attraction can lead to favoritism and nepotism in promotions, raises, or bonuses. A superior who finds an employee attractive may be biased towards them when making decisions regarding career advancement. This bias may lead to other employees feeling resentful and demoralized, affecting morale and motivation.
Sexual attraction can also cause supervisors to overlook red flags or warning signs when evaluating an employee's performance.
If a supervisor is attracted to an employee, they may ignore behavioral issues such as tardiness, absenteeism, or poor attitude. Consequently, this will negatively impact the entire organization as unaddressed problems are left to fester and worsen.
In what ways can sexual attraction distort recognition, evaluation, and appraisal of employee performance?
Sexual attraction has been known to cause biased perception and evaluation of employees' performance in organizations. Specifically, managers who are attracted to their female subordinates tend to overvalue them when giving feedback on their work. This is because they may be motivated by romantic feelings rather than objective assessment of their job performance.