Hierarchical workplace romance: an experimental examination of team memberperceptions

Using a 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design and data from 158 subjects, this stud y assessed the effects of three romance participant characteristics and res pondent gender on reactions to working with team members involved in a hier archical workplace romance. The romance participant characteristics include d: (a) marital status of the team leader (married versus single); (b) marit al Status of a coworker (married versus single); and (c) gender of the team leader-coworker dyad (male-female versus female-male). Significant effects were found for team leader; marital status, coworker marital status, and g ender of the respondent. This study also examined attributions of blame and attributions of motive (job-related, ego, or love) to the romantic couple for engaging in the workplace romance. Results indicated:that the team lead er was more frequently attributed blame, yet attribution of blame was:affec ted by the marital status of both the team leader and the coworker. Both th e team leader and the coworker were most frequently attributed an ego motiv e for the involvement. Implications for work teams and managerial policies are discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.