Love Contracts in the Workplace

Abstract

Romance frequently occurs in the office but when workplace relationships dissolve, then accusations of poor judgment, breaches of ethics, favoritism, lost productivity, and sexual harassment grievances may occur. Such issues may be particularly troublesome for entrepreneurs and small businesses because capital is limited, and time, talent, and money diverted to issues surrounding workplace romance and possibly sexual harassment are especially problematic. To reduce firm liability for sexual harassment charges companies may want to consider adopting love contracts that memorialize the consensual nature of the relationship and that if the romance ends the employees will not sue the employer for harassment.