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Transferring a Manager for Dating a Subordinate

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Our Michigan company does not have a policy regarding dating. However, one of our managers has recently begun dating a subordinate. Can we legally transfer him?

No; not unless you have a policy that specifically states that your employees are not allowed to date subordinates. Interoffice dating can have a serious negative effect on the workplace. While dating often ends in a harmonious long-term relationship, just as often, it ends badly. You open the company up to a plethora of legal troubles if you allow your manager to date a subordinate. Not only can other employees claim unfairness, but if the relationship ends and anything goes wrong in the office, it can be blamed on the failed relationship and the subordinate could sue the workplace for unfairness.

Because you do not have a written policy in place regarding dating in the workplace, you cannot legally transfer, demote, or fire your manager. However, you can make it be known that it is not acceptable to your company that the two employees see each other. You can offer that one of the employees gets transferred to another department or take another position in which they are not a manager and subordinate.

In the future, it is a wise idea to develop a policy that addresses the issue of dating in the workplace. Your employees should be aware of what is expected of them and of what your workplace simply will not tolerate. While this particular case will likely be grandfathered into the policy and the couple will be able to continue dating, you can have all other employees agree to the policy.

Be sure that you do not come across as too harsh, as you may upset not only the couple that is in a relationship, but other employees as well. As such, it is important that you communicate effectively why office relationships are not allowed. Communication is the best means to help your employees understand your actions.