Boss-Subordinate Relationship Case Study

It is not uncommon for people to meet their future partners in their workplace. Indeed, many people fall in love with their colleagues. However it is also possible that the director or manager of a company is sharing an intimate relationship with an employee. According to Vault 's 2014 Office Romance Survey, 20% of women surveyed claimed they have dated a supervisor against 9% of men who dated a supervisor. Statistics can be partly explained by the increased number of women who work compared to the past. It has increased the chance of workplace romance.

Superior-subordinate relationship refers to the involvement between organizational leaders and their subordinates and how they work together to achieve personal and organizational goals. …show more content…
SHRM finds that 95% HR professionals think that boss-subordinate relationships should be restricted, and 54% agree to restrict the relationship with someone of a significant rank. These two are the main sources of concern for a company. Issues and conflict of interests may arise due to boss-subordinate relationship. People will be less focused in their work and it will decrease their professionalism, and this could severely harm the company and its morale. Also, this type of relation will impact people around them and can lead to jealousy; employees may sabotage the work of one who has a relationship with the supervisor and can create a mess in the department. The relationship can also lead to claims of favoritism or cause other co-workers to feel uncomfortable and create a hostile work environment. Here is an example of situation that can be particularly difficult to manage. For instance, if the CEO of a company is maintaining a relationship with the director of human resources. It is certain that the employees are not going to confide her …show more content…
In such a case, one of the two will have to leave the company. Similarly, boss-subordinate relation will impact people around them and can lead to jealousy; employees may sabotage the work of one who has a relationship with the supervisor and can create a mess in the department. The relationship can also lead to claims of favoritism or cause other co-workers to feel uncomfortable and create a hostile work environment. According to Careerbuilder survey, only 3% of people claimed it has helped their career. This number seems very low compared to what HR professionals think about favoritism that it is for them the first reason to ban workplace