A staff nurse on our unit has been dating our unit manager and I would like opinions on the issue. They began dating several months prior to his becoming the unit manager. They remain very discreet with nothing at work indicating preferential treatment or inappropriate behaviors. They are both exceptional nurses and carry out their duties professionally. Some staff feel it should not be allowed while others say it was going on when he was promoted so why not leave them alone as long as the relationship is left out of the unit.
It is probably against HR policies. It isn't really unethical. It is unwise. It would only be unethical if there was preferential treatment. I am sure in any situation the tendency of preferential treatment may be there but that is not always the case. Employers just avoid it to make sure there are no problems. Not necessarily because it always causes problems.
In any case, the HR people either know about it and are ok with it or soon will. Some employers allow these relationships because their employees are mature enough to handle them. The appearance of favoritism does not mean there is favoritism. A good HR person would stop it, a good boss would let it go unless it was a problem. People gossipping and complaining really shouldn't make any difference to an employer as they gossip and complain about everything anyways.
Atheos
2,098 Posts
It is probably against HR policies. It isn't really unethical. It is unwise. It would only be unethical if there was preferential treatment. I am sure in any situation the tendency of preferential treatment may be there but that is not always the case. Employers just avoid it to make sure there are no problems. Not necessarily because it always causes problems.
In any case, the HR people either know about it and are ok with it or soon will. Some employers allow these relationships because their employees are mature enough to handle them. The appearance of favoritism does not mean there is favoritism. A good HR person would stop it, a good boss would let it go unless it was a problem. People gossipping and complaining really shouldn't make any difference to an employer as they gossip and complain about everything anyways.