LOVE WITHOUT SEX - THE IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INTIMACY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AT WORK

Although workplace relationships that involve sexual attraction and ro mance have received much media attention in recent years, friendships that do not involve sexual intimacy remain largely unexamined. Nonethe less, these relationships will likely become more prevalent and will r aise new questions for organizations. For example, are such relationsh ips inevitably headed for sexual involvement? What are the links, if a ny, with sexual harassment? Should managers encourage inter-dependence and interaction in teams while, at the same time, discouraging person al relationships between men and women? The authors' research, based o n both case studies and a national survey, shows that relationships wi th psychological (but not physical) intimacy are associated with posit ive benefits for the participants and the organization. These benefits include mutual career-related support, more job involvement, positive self-evaluation of performance, and greater commitment to the organiz ation. Some negative consequences for the work group, such as gossip a nd complaints, may also arise. Therefore, the authors urge managers no t to be fooled by appearances, but to focus on objective measures of p erformance in determining whether a particular relationship is produci ng negative consequences.