Hi Erin,
In our article on preventing sexual harassment at work, we provide this advice below. However, to give more specific guidance, I’d need to know more about your work environment. For example, in restaurants that hire younger part time workers it’s common for staff to date, so your policy might focus on professionalism at work, and require that those dating not have a reporting relationship. Can you provide more information on what kinds of issues are occurring that you’re trying to prevent? Another option is to describe prohibited behaviors in your sexual harassment policy (article and template attached below). Also, in the same article, we provide info on state by state regulations (which may impact what your policy could/should say.) Best wishes! Laura, HR Staff Writer, SPHR, MAEd

Question: Should my policy specifically prohibit employees from dating co-workers?
Answer: No. A review of case law by ABA determined: “While it is impossible to avoid friendships and relationships between co-workers, vendors and customers, it is imperative that such relationships do not result in creating a hostile work environment for other employees of the company.” We also recommend, in order to avoid potential Quid pro Quo issues, that “employee couples” do not have a reporting relationship such as manager-employee.

Sexual Harassment Policy Guide With Free Template

• This reply was modified 6 days, 21 hours ago by  Laura Handrick. Reason: added paren