Relationships and organizations
In today's workplace, many people think that their professional performance is mainly determined by their technical skills, their productivity, their efficiency, or their intelligence. But it has been proven that sexual relationships have great power to affect career advancement. It turns out that some managers prefer to promote those who are willing to have an affair with them than those who excel professionally. Therefore, if you want to get ahead, you might have to compromise your integrity for a momentary pleasure. The consequences can be serious because there will always be gossip about who sleeps with whom behind closed doors.
The dark side of office politics
The truth is that no one is immune to the power of seduction. Most people will fall into temptation when they are surrounded by beautiful colleagues every day. Sexual tension is inevitable, so don't pretend to be immune. In fact, there is a whole market for this type of behavior whereby workers seek positions as sexual partners of bosses or important clients.
It should never lead to harassment, since this would be unethical and illegal.
Reasons for sex-for-success
There are several reasons why employees engage in these types of relationships, such as the desire for promotion or simply financial gain. Some even believe that sex can increase creativity and innovation within the team. Others use it to build alliances and improve business relations. Unfortunately, most of these situations end up being abusive.
If a subordinate wants a raise but the manager refuses, he/she may offer him/her sex instead of a salary increase. This creates a vicious cycle of dependency between the two parties involved.
Affected areas
It's not just about money or promotions either. Relationships also affect how decisions are made inside an organization.
Managers often prefer to appoint someone with whom they have had sex at least once as their successor rather than a more qualified candidate.
Those who refuse to sleep with them might find themselves outcast from the company culture. They become "invisible" and feel uncomfortable around other co-workers due to rumors and gossip circulating about their behavior.
Consequences on productivity
We cannot ignore the impact on performance when people are forced to comply with a manager's demands. If someone has to work under pressure because they fear losing their job or being fired, then quality suffers. Besides, the person will probably feel depressed and guilty afterward, which could lead to mental health problems like anxiety attacks or even suicide attempts. The fact is that there is always a price to pay for this type of sexual relationship - emotionally and professionally.
Sexual relationships have many negative effects on the professional environment since they create clandestine centers of influence. Managers should avoid using them as leverage over employees, but sometimes it is difficult to resist temptation in such a competitive environment. Therefore, everyone must be aware of the consequences before engaging in any kind of intimate activity with colleagues.
How do sexual relationships create clandestine centers of influence that affect organizational politics?
In an organization, there are many individuals who have close personal relationships with each other, which can result in forming power blocs and influencing decisions made by leadership teams. Sexual relationships among employees can be one such center of influence.