Newsweek on “Hooking Up at Work”
A few weeks ago, we had some spirited discussions on office romance and whether “love contracts” are a good idea. Today, Newsweek.com ran a story exploring those topics in detail and was kind enough to quote yours truly. Click here for the story.
The article discusses love contracts at length and offers some expert legal opinions suggesting they’re a good idea. When we asked our readers what they think, we got an even 50-50 split for and against. But virtually everyone who offered a comment on the topic was dead set against ‘em.
To sum up my feelings on this issue, here’s the quote from the Newsweek article:
Consensual relationship agreements are just another case of “overlawyering,” says Mark Toth, the chief legal officer for Manpower North America, an outplacement and employment services company based in Milwaukee. “It forces [employers] to become the love police, consistently enforcing who’s dating whom,” Toth says. And he’s not sure if such contracts will necessarily protect companies from litigation. A subordinate signing a love contract might claim that he or she signed under duress or that harassment began after the contract was signed.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Great quote Mark!
May 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Thanks, Eric!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:59 am
I agree with you, Mark.
Where we are located, there is an enormous economic gap between the unemployed/barely employed and the yuppie. Sometimes the workplace is the only place to find a match. If employers start dictating who I can and can not date, then I fear that I will be living private school all over again.
There could be possible discrimination suits arising from such a contract.