Bill Maher is a comic with a political edge. I didn't disagree with what he said. In the case of Udoka, it probably is more than just 2 consenting adults who work together starting to date (although none of us nor Maher know all the details). I don't think Ukoda specifically was the main point of his harangue. It was more about this idea that if two consenting adults who work at the same company, start to date, that they have to tell HR. And to me, that does seem weird.
Office romances can create certain tensions but I am not sure getting HR involved or just forbidding any office romance in the right answer. For young people today though, if that is the rule, then it is no wonder online dating is so common.
I think the answer to that is it is more nuanced. Obviously there would (or should) be firm policies on workplace relationships where there's a power imbalance, because that's just asking for trouble. If it's two people who don't interact as part of their work duties and can both act professionally I don't see the need to tell HR until such time as any interaction occurs. It's mainly to avoid any conflict of interest. And nobody who dates someone thinks about if or how it will end, and if people have to work with each other during a breakup, it can affect workplace morale and performance.
I know that from experience both as someone who dated someone in the workplace and as someone whose staff did the same thing. After all, one of the main places you spend time in is work, and that's one of the main places you meet people. One of the first girls I dated was someone I worked with closely and when we broke up it was extremely difficult and uncomfortable for both of us and I had to ask for a transfer out of my team which couldn't be provided for six months and I'm sure my performance suffered (that was my first job out of college) as well as my credibility/perceived judgment). The same thing happened to a sales guy on my team who dated my receptionist and it ended badly. My receptionist eventually resigned and I had to pay her out to prevent any issues. Now is it the company's business? We could argue no, but if it affects work performance shouldn't the company have a say? At the very least they can caution you on the risks and pitfalls should something go south. You might not listen to them but at least you know where you stand.
It's not as simple as how Bill portrays it. But he doesn't get paid to portray nuance, that gets too complicated for people to listen to so I know exactly where he is coming from
Topic: Udoka Facing Suspension/Udoka to Nets?? (Read 116423 times)