Penna Dexter

The #MeToo movement is forcing companies to deal with questions of workplace dating etiquette. The recent proliferation of abuse-of-power and sexual harassment allegations has many firms scrambling to establish stricter guidelines while avoiding excessive policing of relationships. For the last decade the share of workers who say they have dated a co-worker has hovered around 40 percent. It dropped last year to 36 percent. Everybody's a little edgy. Managers and employees alike are wondering: Are consensual office relationships ok? The Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled "Can You Still Date a Co-worker? Well, It's Complicated." In it, Rachel Feintzeig describes some ways in which "U.S. companies are trying to keep romantic relationships from spiraling into a risk factor." One question they're grappling with is when and to whom employees should disclose a relationship. After one date? A few? When there's a commitment? A managing attorney at Jackson Lewis, a prominent workplace law firm, recommends that companies bar managers from dating anyone below them in the organization with firing as a consequence. He said companies are listening and "drawing a hard line in the sand." Tech company perks entice single employees to spend long hours on corporate campuses. Yet, at Facebook and Alphabet Inc.'s Google, an employee can only ask a co-worker out once. If refused — even with "I'm busy that night." — they're not allowed to ask again. National Review's Heather Wilhelm also wrote about this. She reminds her readers "we are talking about consensual relationships between grown adults in a free country." Some employees report they are now avoiding lunches or meeting alone with the opposite sex. Some are requesting chaperones. Some are refraining from office banter and from complimenting colleagues on their appearance. Feminists' fears drain some of the richness from life. I know a couple of shy techies who worked in the same office. I'm thankful this preceded our current rules-heavy environment because now I have a precious daughter-in-law.