| Unless you completely segregate your employees so | | | | relationship. Neither option is ideal, so a blanket ban is |
| that they have nothing to do with one another (and | | | | unlikely to work. |
| let us be honest, that is impossible to do and | | | | Firstly, you must never take sides in a dispute |
| maintain), at some point a personal problem between | | | | between employees. It is unprofessional for personal |
| two or more members of your workforce is going to | | | | matters to effect a working relationship, so you |
| develop. In an ideal world it is a mild fight between | | | | must be swift, honest and fair - and do hand out |
| friends, but one must be aware when running a | | | | punishment if the situation warrants it. It is important, |
| company that issues such as romance, infidelity and | | | | however, to treat both parties in the same manner |
| even arguments regarding children and marriage | | | | until the problem is resolved - suggest that they see |
| between employees may spill into the professional | | | | a mediator (on their own time or yours, if it is a |
| domain. | | | | serious problem) to reach a point of agreement. |
| This can be a huge problem for any company, as no | | | | If the argument between employees is anything |
| one is completely capable of leaving their personal life | | | | more than a small tiff in a relationship, the most |
| at home - but even more so if the object of their | | | | effective way of maintaining the productivity of both |
| problem is working alongside them. Some bosses | | | | parties is to separate them. You may be tempted to |
| insist in contracts that employees are not to have a | | | | continue to have them work together in the hope |
| personal, romantic relationship; yet this is rarely | | | | that things will blow over, but in reality this could |
| effective. In the best case, you have a couple who | | | | escalate any disagreement. Wherever possible, |
| hide their relationship at work which still may | | | | separate them and let them work independently; as |
| inevitably spill over should it go wrong, or you have | | | | tempers cool and time passes, the friendship will |
| more conscientious employees who decide one - or | | | | either mend or end forever, but your company will |
| both - of them will leave so as to pursue their | | | | hopefully not be effected by the issue. |