Joanna pokes her pen across the desk of her workstation, rolling into the stack of files leaning precariously to the left like the Tower of Pisa. She groans when she glances at the time on her computer – not quite time yet. Joanna slumps her head onto the desk and folds her arms over herself.

After a few minutes, a hand pats her gently on the head and nudges a soft pretzel across the desk, bumping her nose. She looks up to see David grinning – “Hey, you’re looking pretty enthused right about now.” She smiles for a moment, looking at David sleepily as he rearranges the collection of files in his arms. 

“Hey,” he says after putting some of the files down on the desk next to her, “a few of us are going to the pub after our shift, and I was wondering, if you weren’t busy or anything, if you’d want to join us.” Joanna nods, “Sure, if I can get these done. I’ve been swamped all day.”

David frowns for a second, gathers his papers up in his arms, and turns to leave, “It’s no biggie, just thought I’d extend the invitation. Maybe I’ll see you over there.” Smiling, Joanna quickly grabs a file from the desk and, with a noticeable enthusiasm, starts to transfer the data into the workstation.

Workplace flirtations are rarely the sultry romances that medical dramas, such as “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” make them out to be. However, there is a revitalizing, albeit sometimes temporary, capacity for the occasional relationship intrigue. Despite past personnel studies that have identified turbulent relationships as one of the biggest problems facing workplace managers, recent experts are stating that relationships, even harmless flirtations, can have significant positive effects on employee retention and productivity.

Many businesses are now incorporating this data into existing protocols and policies which formerly banned workplace relationships, a trend of the past few years which is only now beginning to see profitable results for employers.
   
Workplace Counter Culture

Many business experts point to the brisk rise of the dot.com industry as one of various spearheads for this new trend in easing strict company protocols around workplace romance. Reaching its peak in 2000, the dot.com industry was a widespread phenomenon in which an explosion of Internet-based companies dismissed the standard business models, with a focus on increasing market share at the expense of the bottom line.

These companies also recruited a younger employee base, predominantly graduate computer programmers and technology experts, who brought a less structured and more open-minded attitude into the workplace.

Due to the enormous success of the dot.com industries, namely a high rate of employee satisfaction and retention, many other corporations began to adopt more relaxed office protocols and lessen behavioral strictures. Along with a more comfortable dress code and interpersonal communication among employees, relationships remain at the forefront of this push toward a less anxious working environment.

In contrast to the policies of older corporations, where employee romance was expressly forbidden, many companies have done away with a written policy as such, opting instead to allow individual managers to determine and deal with these situations as they arise.

According to a survey issued by the Society for Human Resource Management, 72 percent of U.S. companies do not have a written policy, with 14 percent of those saying they have an unwritten, but well understood, conduct of behavior in their workplace.

The medical field is becoming aware of the imperative to recruit and maintain professionals by advertising an appealing work culture. Hospitals and medical facilities across the country are gradually incorporating some of these growing personnel trends into their policies, opening a door to a more relaxed and amicable workforce.

Adding Spice to the Mix

Romance and flirting affect the atmosphere of the workplace in various ways, yet often, this situation is looked upon in a negative light – as disruptive to workflow and detrimental to meeting the prescribed quota of work. However, romantic intrigues bring several benefits to the workplace, often providing a counteracting effect to common occurrences of burnout and stress introduced from managers and deadlines.

For example, new employees who seem to be constantly immersed in their work or work past their alloted hours, are often bound to begin stressing about their jobs, and even question whether it is worth the stress to stay at their job.

But a simple romantic intrigue can do wonders for some overburdened employees. A momentary interruption or a flirty few words at the water cooler can provide enough “relief time” that the employee manages to dramatically decompress, and return to their work with a renewed vigor. Flirtations such as these also provide employees with an incentive to finish work in sync with other employees to allow for more “chance” meetings.

“[Relationships] could certainly increase employee motivation to go to work,” says Paul Davis, a professional mediator, workplace relationship expert, and member of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Management Consultants. “Working with someone and dating them simultaneously could create a certain incentive for work attendance, and allow for greater cohesion, as well as momentum at the workplace.”

Also, a relationship at work can sometimes inadvertently create some friendly competition between those involved, and create incentives for other employees. Usually, either member of the budding relationship does not want to seem inferior to the other, and when opportunities for promotions and other advancements arise in the workplace with both vying for the position, the rivalry can set an interesting precedent for the rest of the employees.
   
A Solid Foundation

After recruiting individuals, healthcare facilities must then work to retain them. In light of 401(k) plans and education reimbursement policies, allowing workplace relationships seems like a fairly obvious way to cement a stable employee base. 

“With the talent war the way it is today, the one thing that truly differentiates one company from another is their culture,” says Jeff Wittenberg, a partner with Kaye/Bassman, a search firm based in Plano, Texas.

“The focus on corporate culture is incredibly high, but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect when a company says they have a family culture, yet they have a policy that prevents employees from finding their personal family there (i.e. a no-dating policy). It flies against the very concept that these companies are trying to sell, to differentiate themselves and attract that top talent.”

A romantic work relationship provides a golden handcuff for companies interested in retaining the employees they have worked hard to recruit. Along with perks, such as locale, salary, and benefits, employees want to be able to see a future for themselves at their company, and that means not only a successful career but also the foundations of a healthy relationship, possibly even marriage and children.

For many employees, there are few places outside of work for the socialization and camaraderie that seems to come so easily in a work environment, and many are searching for facilities that offer a work culture that is conducive to “match-making”.

“If you’re dating someone at the office, or even further if you’re married to someone at the office, it’s going to be harder for you to leave and go to the competition. Because there is so much more at stake, there’s more to consider now than just yourself,” says Wittenberg.

“Great companies do not necessarily promote, but certainly support work relationships where they arise, because now the company really is a family, because of the families within it. One of the biggest reasons for leaving one company for another is the culture.”

Maintaining the Balance

While the immediate benefits of tossing a romance bomb into the workplace are certainly enticing, managers are still wary of the fallout of these relationship explosions and the negative effects they can have on the workplace. Some employees are unsure how to act accordingly when pursuing a relationship in the workplace, leading to various disruptions not only of their own workflow, but also upsetting the work habits of their colleagues.

“You can both see each other all day, every day,” says Kate Taylor, a relationship consultant for Match.com. “Even if you are not distracted, your boss will assume you are distracted and will watch you more closely for errors in your work and/or day-dreaminess. [Also,] we are all programmed to take an interest in interpersonal relationships, especially at work, so your budding romance will soon become the work soap opera.”

Relationships in the workplace have the same risks as relationships outside of the workplace, with similar results. The way in which employees handle an emerging romance or the dissolution of one can vary greatly from person to person, and sometimes it helps to have a manager be aware of the general atmosphere in the workplace, interceding when a relationship becomes problematic.

Whether due to excessive flirting and interaction between those involved or the disturbance that comes when two ex-lovers have parted ways, relationships are sometimes a double-edged sword which managers need to judge on a case-by-case basis.

“[When employees] become a distraction in the workplace, it’s important to bring them together and explain your concerns,” says Davis.

“Begin by saying, ‘I understand in the past you both have had some sort of relationship, but you seem to have had a falling out. Sorry to hear that, but nevertheless, I want to make sure we all have the same mindset as to what a professional employee environment should be’. If they’re unwilling to reconcile, you may have to ask one, if not both, to resign or it’s going to continue to be a hostile environment.”

While facility policies are gradually changing to accommodate a more employee-centric model, it is important to maintain an unwritten behavioral code among the employees, supporting behaviors and couples that have correctly gone about their relationships, and speaking with employees whose relationships have either turned sour or, through extreme flirting, have caused a public commotion in the workplace.

Managers and employees are advised to tread carefully in this new experiment in facility/personnel reinforcement, remaining cautious, yet open-minded, to the benefits that this new venture allows.


— Bob Stott is a staff writer for Therapy Times. Questions and comments can be directed to bstott@valleyforgepress.com.