August 10, 2022
In work environments, love interests can arise between colleagues. This leads employees to wonder if they are allowed to go out with one of their co-workers without getting in trouble or being fired.
Are romantic relationships allowed in California workplaces?
Some users prefer to avoid romantic partners due to various reasons, such as favoritism or conflicts of interest within the company. Despite this, the California Labor Code protects an employee’s right to privacy, and gives you the freedom to engage in any (legal) activity outside of business hours and outside of the workplace. This also includes being in a romantic relationship with a co-worker.
Exceptions
However, there are certain dating relationships between co-workers that are not protected in California. This is because there are partners who could jeopardize the work of supervision, efficiency, morale, or safety and/or affect the legitimate business interests of employers. For example, if a person in a supervisory position dates someone in a supervised or subordinate position, it can create an imbalance of power and there may be unfair treatment or favoritism. In cases, users have reasons to limit these romantic relationships.
Employee protections
As a California employee, you cannot be fired solely because you are dating a co-worker. While employers can implement anti-fraternization policies in the workplace, your employer’s control over your life outside of work hours should be limited. If your employee legitimately wants to fire you, there must be another reason beyond your romantic relationship. If your romantic relationship does not present a conflict of interest to your employer, and you and your love interest conduct yourself professionally while at work, then your employer is unlikely to prevail if you seek a wrongful termination lawsuit.
