The conventional wisdom about office romances has long been clear: just don’t do it.
But just last week, a New York Times Opinion piecetitled “Go On, Date Your Coworkers,” encourages this and raises the question: Is dating in the workplace no longer taboo?
That’s the question we asked DV Williams, Chief People Officer Match group, in the debut episode from Fortune Office Hoursa new series appearing in this newsletter and on video. As I mentioned this spring, we identify real workplace scenarios and seek input from top HR leaders.
Transparency is key to office relationships, Williams says. Employees who wish to enter into such an arrangement should be aware of their company’s policies and speak to Human Resources about any disclosure requirements. Just as important, he says, is keeping the resulting “relationship drama” out of the office.
Would Williams’ advice be different if he didn’t work at Match, where relationships are at the core of the company’s DNA?
“I have followed this philosophy for many years and have worked in many different industries,” he says. “[A workplace relationship] Things only get messy when things are hidden or you haven’t had the right conversations to understand the company’s policies. Otherwise it should be fun.”
In the future you will find it Fortune Office Hours as a regular contributor to this newsletter. If you have a workplace situation you’re not sure how to handle or a scenario worth unpacking, send it to us via this form.
And if you’re a leader or workplace expert interested in sharing your perspective, I’d love to hear from you too. Contact me at my email address below.
Kristin Stoller
Editorial Director, Fortune Live Media
kristin.stoller@fortune.com
Around the table
A roundup of the most important HR headlines.
The same executives who claim AI will lead to a four-day week are also demanding more hours from employees. New York Times
Generation X bosses are retreating while Generation Z talent is giving up. It’s because of this major communication error. Inc.
Companies rely on internal “AI champions” to encourage hesitant colleagues to use the new technology. Wall Street Journal
Water cooler
Everything you need to know Assets.
Senior selection. New AI startups are hiring less entry level Talent in favor of older workers with top qualifications. –Emma Burleigh
Shortage of employees. Labor force participation has fallen lowest value in 50 years outside of Covid – and not just because workers are giving up. –Catherine Gioino
AI Slog. Companies still don’t know how to integrate AI holistically, and that Managers are the bottleneck. –Sheryl Estrada