What would you do?
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 05-15-2007 - 4:52pm |
Let's say you are employed with a good size company but your "department" only consists of 5 people. You work very closely with your 3 coworkers and your supervisor. You might even say you have a "friendship" with one coworker.
You and two of your coworkers have noticed that the other coworker and your supervisor have become very good "friends". They spend a great deal of time outside of work together (probably atleast 3 out of 5 week nights and atleast one weekend day). This coworker is even getting ready to get a divorce AND move into the SAME apt. community as your supervisor. They haven't admitted to anything (quite frankly I'm not sure they've admitted anything to each other yet) but there's NO way there's nothing going on!
Here's the thing. Me and my coworkers are toying with saying something to our supervisor's supervisor!? Or maybe I should go alone (not appear to be "one of the gang"!?) I'm SO afraid of making things weird - especially since the girl and I are kinda... friends!?
What does one do? Fear of favoritism, special treatment (honestly I've witnessed time card manipulation - but would NEVER report them), and sharing of confidential information are a concern - among other things!
What would you do?
(oh and my supervisor and his supervisor are "friendly" as well - so it feels like EVERYONE is in bed together! :( )

Man, this must be more common than I thought. A friend of mine just told me about something very similar happening at her office.
I agree with the PP that you shouldn't say anything to the higher up. It's likely he/she suspects it already and may be trying to handle it behind closed doors. You may want to raise the issue with human resources, however, if it starts to affect the department and the work around the office.
Do you have a policies and proecedures manual at your office? Does it outline a policy about inner-office dating? If so, you have more of a case.
AJ, enjoying life with C.
We kind of had that situation a few years ago at school.
My vote is don't say anything. If you and/or your coworkers said something to the boss's boss or HR, what do you think might happen? And would that be better? Unless you have a strong picture of what you want to happen AND it seems likely, there's really nothing you can do other than make things possibly worse. Certainly it would strain personal and professional relationships within the team and I'm not sure that it would be better than what's going on now. As you said, the two may not even have admitted attraction to each other. It may just be a temporary crush.
Unless and until something happens that affects your job and/or your potential career path that you can document, I think you're stuck. :\
Speaking to HR might help, but that can be a slippery slope too. You know your HR department; you know your team; and you know your company culture. Make sure that you have something you want to say first as well as expected results before going on record.
While I'm a firm believer that there should be no swimming in the "office pool," I've also witnessed some great relationships come about because of it so I can't really come down too hard on the prospect.
Well if it's against company policy I would go to HR about it in an anonymous capacity and ask that it be strictly confidential and have HR approach both subjects as that it's been noticed by upper management.
In my company relationships are allowed but not between Supervisors and subs. If Supervisors and subs than one or the other has to change departments so there isn't a conflict of interest, it's not fair to the other employees nor is it going to be a good working environment if the two break up and it's ugly. It totally protects the company for lawsuits as well. It's in everyones best interest that the two not be working for the other and a romantic relationship be involved.
However, if your company doesn't state any policies on the subject you might just be up the creek without a paddle and have to deal with it.
Smile,
Deirdre
Unless you are in the bedroom with them, it's pure speculation and gossip to state that there's anything going on between them.
Not exactly a career-improving action to report gossip to higher-ups.
MYOB