Consensual Relationship Agreements

Consensual Relationship Agreements

Introduction

Sexual relationships between co-workers are inevitable in most of the cases because people cannot control how, when, and who they fall in love with they simply fallow their instinct. Personal and sexual relationship are more commonly seen in today's workplace, organization do their best to avoid them. In job applications is common to find a question if applicants have a family member or if the applicant knows anyone in the organization. This give an opportunity to the organization identify possible relationships between employees and prospect employees. However, when relation sexual relationship are discover, organizations will made sing employees involved in the relationship a consensual relationship agreement form. The purpose of the conceptual relationship agreement is to protect the best interest of the organization by avoiding any future sexual harassment complaints (Consensual relationship agreement, 2007). This paper aims to analyze and discuses the consensual relationship agreement, arguments against it use, ethical principles involved, and contra arguments of the consensual relationship agreement. Sexual relationships are part of human nature, but it interferes and generates conflict of interest in the workplace that can be avoided by a consensual relationship agreement (Gulliver, 1999).

Love in the office is bound to happen. Nowadays with more and more people spending time focused on work and being in the office, the numbers of office romances are on the rise (Dharmaraj, 2012). In the office, one tends to meet people who share in at least one of his or her common interest(s)-the career path he or she has chosen. Any activity such as dinner and drinks after a long days work can lead in individuals developing a love interest in one another. Many actors and actress can be seen in films together; only later for it to come out that they are dating. President Obama met his wife while employed at Sidley & Austin, LLP (Essence Magazine, 2010). Those involved in romantic relationships must ensure that the relationship does not interfere with the performance of either employee's job by properly managing the relationship; Management is a necessity to protect both those involved in the relationship and the company itself (Cohen, 2009). As long as the individuals involved are able to differentiate the difference between the workplace and their relationship, a consensual relationship agreement can be used to protect the company's safety against sexual harassment claims should the relationship go awry. A consensual relationship agreement (CRA) is voluntary written contract that protects employees from claims of sexual harassment against the company (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011). The agreement is to follow company rules in regard to sexual harassment, agreement that the relationship is voluntary and not a condition of employment and voids the right of privacy in the workplace in regard to the relationship if the relationship begins to affect job performance (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011).

Discussion

If you put individuals with common interests together for 40-plus hours per week, office romance is bound to happen. Statistics seem to bear that out: According to a survey by ...