What is Sexual Attraction?
Sexual attraction refers to the psychological and physiological response an individual has towards another person that can be experienced as pleasurable or exciting. It involves a combination of physical and emotional cues that trigger feelings of desire, lust, and interest.
How Can Sexual Attraction Create Ethical Dilemmas in Performance Management?
When someone experiences sexual attraction toward a coworker, it can create ethical dilemmas in performance management because it may lead them to favor one employee over others in terms of promotions, salary increases, and other rewards. This can result in unfair treatment and discrimination against non-attractive employees.
If the attraction goes unrequited, it can cause discomfort and awkwardness in the workplace, leading to decreased productivity and morale.
Examples of Ethical Dilemmas Created By Sexual Attraction
Here are some examples of how sexual attraction can create ethical dilemmas in performance management:
1. Promotion Bias - If an employee feels attracted to another employee, they may give preferential treatment to that employee during promotion decisions.
2. Salary Increase Discrimination - An employer may increase the pay of an employee who they find attractive without regard for their actual job performance.
3. Favoritism - The manager may show more attention and favoritism to the attractive employee, even if they have not been performing well.
4. Harassment - Unwanted advances or comments from a manager towards an employee can create an environment where the employee feels uncomfortable and threatened.
5. Favors - A manager may use their position of power to grant favors to an attractive employee, which could be seen as a form of bribery or coercion.
6. Unprofessional Conduct - Behaviors such as staring, touching, or making suggestive remarks can make the workplace feel like a sexualized environment.
Implications of These Ethical Dilemmas
These ethical dilemmas created by sexual attraction can have serious implications on the organization's culture and reputation. It can lead to legal action taken against the company, reduced morale and engagement among employees, and decreased productivity.
It can damage the trust between managers and subordinates, creating a hostile work environment.
In what ways can sexual attraction create ethical dilemmas in performance management?
While sexual attraction between two employees may seem like a private matter, it can have serious implications for employers in terms of potential harassment claims, favoritism allegations, and other workplace issues. Managing such situations requires careful consideration of both individual needs and organizational policies. On one hand, employees should be able to express their feelings freely within appropriate boundaries without fear of punishment or discrimination.