Seven Things Employers Should Consider About Office Romance

February 12, 2026 | From HRCalifornia Extra

by Mike McCluskey, Senior Technical Editor, CalChamber

Valentine’s Day can bring pleasant thoughts of romance and chocolates, but when employers think about workplace romances, they may also think about harassment and discrimination claims. After all, sweethearts often grow sour on each other. Although employers generally should avoid asking about an employee’s off-duty activities, particularly if the activities don’t affect the workplace, an employer may rightly be concerned about liability related to workplace romances.

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