What are the potential pitfalls of romance in the workplace?

What are the potential pitfalls of romance in the workplace? Why do some employers allow or encourage dating among employees? Could a ban on coworker dating be considered an overly restrictive work rule? Explain your answer.

Romantic relationships in the workplace have many pitfalls. Firstly, romances usually do not work out. This means that romantic relationships usually end unsuccessfully, with one or both parties upset over the relationship and the break-up. When relationships occur between two people who share a workplace, tension between these two individuals can easily disrupt productivity. Productivity suffers when people have trouble communicating and working as a team. If two people are angry with each other, they will not work well together and productivity will suffer. This can even spread to other employees who may find out what is going on and take sides, so a romance that goes wrong can affect the working relationship of more than just the two individuals involved in the romance. Workplaces sometimes allow or encourage office romances because this can raise morale within the company. These companies’ employees usually do not work in close teams, meaning the fallout from a breakup is limited. A ban on coworker dating is sometimes considered too restrictive, because employees can feel like they are treated like unprofessional children who cannot manage their emotions if something goes wrong.