Effects of a dissolved workplace romance and rater characteristics on responses to a sexual harassment accusation

We examined effects of a dissolved workplace romance and rater characterist ics on judgments of responsibility and recommended personnel actions regard ing a sexual harassment accusation. Type of romance and the romance motives of both accused and complainant were manipulated in vignettes describing a terminated liaison that resulted in a sexual. harassment accusation. Resul ts based on a sample of 226 sheriffs department employees indicate that jud gments differed depending on romance motives, and recommended actions diffe red depending on romance type and rater characteristics. Implications for m anagement research, theory, and practice are discussed.