It is almost Valentine’s Day, which, for many offices, means candy and flowers at the front desk and public proclamations of love to employees. This year, it could also mean navigating tricky relationships at the workplace, especially in light of the #MeToo movement, which so often included allegations of inappropriate conduct at work. While it is virtually impossible for employers to outright ban romantic relationships, companies appear to be instituting policies that limit dating for their top executives, according to data on Chief Executive Officer turnover compiled by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
“Over the last two years especially, leaders at many companies are taking it upon themselves to create an environment that fosters safety from sexually inappropriate conduct. This includes establishing clearer guidelines on who can date,” said Andrew Challenger, Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
“Boards are instituting zero-tolerance policies on sexual harassment and cracking down on even consensual relationships, particularly between leaders who may have any kind of perceived or actual professional power over the other person,” he added.
