Supervised by former lover
Caroliso
352 Posts
I am in the position to comment on whether to support a request to transfer an employee to a different department. Both the employee and the supervisor seem to be willing for this to happen (I have not yet spoken with the supervisor). The wrinkle is that I know, because the employee just told me, that the supervisor is a former lover. This is probably more widely known, I just didn't know it myself. I'm guessing the relationship ended 3 or 4 years ago.
In general, we will not permit a situation where an employee is supervised by a family member or spouse, but how do I think about this one? We don't have any written policies on the matter.
My sense is that both parties are genuinely entering the relationship (so to speak) with the best of intentions, and they are each in committed relationships with others, not that that's any guarantee against hanky-panky. My worry is that if things go poorly, which we all know can happen in any supervisory relationship, the fact of this history complicates things and potentially makes them turn uglier than they might. Another piece of relevant information is that the supervisee is coming off a probation that she has passed with flying colors, but time will tell if the issues are gone long term.
I should add that the decision to approve is not mine, but it is my job to raise issues in general that ought to be considered. I'm just not sure it's my job to raise this one in this situation and I need some help.
Thanks in advance.
In general, we will not permit a situation where an employee is supervised by a family member or spouse, but how do I think about this one? We don't have any written policies on the matter.
My sense is that both parties are genuinely entering the relationship (so to speak) with the best of intentions, and they are each in committed relationships with others, not that that's any guarantee against hanky-panky. My worry is that if things go poorly, which we all know can happen in any supervisory relationship, the fact of this history complicates things and potentially makes them turn uglier than they might. Another piece of relevant information is that the supervisee is coming off a probation that she has passed with flying colors, but time will tell if the issues are gone long term.
I should add that the decision to approve is not mine, but it is my job to raise issues in general that ought to be considered. I'm just not sure it's my job to raise this one in this situation and I need some help.
Thanks in advance.
Comments
Document that their current relationship is no different than any other two people working together regardless of a past romance and that there are no outstanding, unresolved issues between them that could affect their ability to work together.
If they both won't sign it, don't approve the transfer.
PORK