MANAGERS PERCEPTIONS OF WORKPLACE ROMANCES - AN INTERVIEW STUDY

Although workplace romances occur frequently, no research has directly examined managers' perceptions of these relationships. In this study, managers (N=30) were interviewed about workplace romances. Included i n these interviews were questions about organizational policies regard ing these relationships, knowledge of prior or current workplace roman ces, and reactions to workplace romances and the participants in those relationships. Managers also responded to 12 items designed to assess the effect of different characteristics of workplace romances on perc eptions of the need for management intervention. Responses to these it ems indicated that managers were most likely to recommend intervention when the relationship occurred between unequal organizational status participants, and it was negatively affecting the work group. The hypo thesis that women managers would respond more negatively than would ma le managers to workplace romances was not supported. Factors that may affect managers' reactions to participants in workplace romances are d iscussed.