Can You Be Fired for Fraternization?

Do you think you need a fraternization policy for your workplace? Many employers avoid a fraternization policy also referred to as a dating policy, workplace romance policy, or a non-fraternization policy because they believe an employee’s private life should be kept private. Here’s the problem with this notion. Employees need some direction about what is acceptable workplace behavior.

Workers don’t want to unknowingly cross a boundary line that results in injuring their work status and career. Savvy employees understand that some policies in their workplace are unwritten, but all employees are entitled to understand workplace norms.

Oftentimes, favoritism occurs when a manager and an employee have developed a You can read more about other forms of discrimination in the workplace in this I am dating my boss’s brother and my boss’s boss wanted avoid nepotism.

Fraternization in the workplace is not uncommon. Employees may work together in small offices on specific projects. Spending extended time together and having daily interaction with each another may lead to a natural progression, in which a friendly relationship between coworkers can develop. Of course, business leaders want employees to get along. Positive employee interactions form the foundation of a positive corporate culture, and boosts employee morale.

However, if relationships extend beyond basic friendship, and some employees begin to date each other, relationships can sour quickly. The dangers of fraternization in the workplace has led to specific non-fraternization policies, which are issues that business leaders need to address. Fraternization is the interaction between co-workers that extends beyond business relationships.