Sexual attraction is a natural human instinct that often occurs in workplace settings between coworkers. It can lead to uncomfortable situations for both parties involved if they have unequal power dynamics within the team hierarchy. This type of behavior can also negatively impact job performance, morale, and productivity levels.
Employees who experience sexual attraction may feel guilty about it because they know that it violates company policies. They may be concerned about how their colleagues will perceive them or whether they will get into trouble for pursuing an office romance.
Employees may worry about how their supervisors will react if they find out about the relationship. This stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, and insomnia. The employee may become distracted from their work duties or avoid certain tasks altogether due to fear of being caught in a compromising situation.
When sexual attraction causes tension within teams, trust breaks down among members. Team leaders are less likely to share important information with other team members, which hinders decision-making processes and slows project progress. Coworkers may become suspicious of each other's motives, leading to a lack of collaboration and communication.
This can result in poor performance reviews and lower overall team morale.
Employees who are attracted to someone in authority may feel pressure to act on those feelings despite knowing better. They may be afraid of losing their jobs or promotions if they don't reciprocate the interest. This can cause emotional distress and affect their self-esteem, causing them to question themselves and their abilities at work. It may also create animosity between co-workers and managers who view one another as competitors rather than collaborators.
Sexual attraction creates psychological costs for both parties involved by creating an uncomfortable environment where people must navigate complicated power dynamics while trying not to jeopardize their careers or relationships. Companies should implement clear policies regarding office romance to protect all employees from these types of situations.
What psychological costs do employees bear when sexual attraction affects their interactions in hierarchical teams?
Employees may experience significant psychological costs when they are attracted to a superior on a hierarchical team due to fear of rejection, embarrassment, guilt, shame, anxiety, self-doubt, and low self-esteem (Buchanan & Badcock, 1985; McEwan & Beattie, 2007).