Craft a Romantic Workplace Relationships Policy
Ensure the policy covers employees at different levels, as well as relationships involving board members. See template crafted below.
See other good examples and guidelines here:
Create the Grievance Policy
Create the Whistleblower Policy
Create the Sexual Misconduct Policy
Create a general Harassment, Discrimination, & Retaliation Policy
Require that all staff read, understand, and comply with these policies in writing
Communicate the policy to all employees through multiple channels (e.g., email, all-hands meetings, employee handbook, etc.).
Mandate the disclosure of any romantic relationship involving board members and employees or stakeholders to the other board members.
Establish a timeline for when disclosures should be made (e.g., within a certain period after the relationship begins).
Assess disclosed relationships for potential conflicts of interest - then develop and implement mitigation strategies.
Note the cases of hierarchical relationships in particular. Document the assessment process and outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Ensure that mitigation strategies respect the privacy and dignity of the involved employees.
Consider providing specific training for managers on recognizing and addressing workplace relationships and potential conflicts of interest.
Keep detailed records of all disclosed relationships, analyses, mitigation measures, and any disciplinary actions taken.
Ensure that this complies with applicable privacy and data protection laws.
Provide targeted training
Train board members on ethical conduct, Conflict of Interest , & power dynamics in relationships.
Create awareness programs for all employees on the policy and their rights and responsibilities.
Establish procedures for monitoring compliance with the policy, including regular reviews, feedback collection, and audits.
This is the final activity article.
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