# Is this new policy even remotely legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724 "2005-05-06T18:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/21 "2005-05-07T00:43:03Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > _snerk_ > > You have to fill out a form? Wonder who thought that up? And how hard did they laugh while suggesting it? It was probably Asok the intern that thought it up, right after he told the PHB to use #7 pencils, since they cost the same, yet the harder lead lasts longer. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/22 "2005-05-07T01:01:04Z")
My mental vision is one of Sam and Sue, sneaking off into the supply room. With the door locked, there is much frenzied kissing and touching of private areas. In partial disrobe, Sue asks, “Are you ready to do this?” Sam answers, “Yes.” At which point they pull out and hand company forms to one another, which they both sign, using each other’s bodies as writing surfaces. Returning the respective forms, and putting away their pens, they resume grinding of loins. Now we dolly back, now we fade to black… 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/23 "2005-05-07T01:47:09Z")
Ummm…. Earl and I are going hunting next weekend. Gonna share a camper. What form is that? Bambi/30-06 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/24 "2005-05-07T14:33:28Z")
When I worked at Best Buy, there was a “no dating” policy. Both Ardred and I worked in the same department, but he was hired after I was. Everyone knew we were dating, and people would joke about us getting married and hypenating our last names (they’re very similar). Once there was a problem (I was written up for performing a task exactly as I was trained to) three months after he started working there. I was suspended for three days, and when I came back, I was told that I would have to move to another department because I was dating a coworker. WTF? Dating policies are silly. If adults can’t keep their relationships to themselves or if it is a problem, they should be fired. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/25 "2005-05-07T17:06:44Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > “Please describe the relationship stage you have reached. (a) first base (b) second base (c) third base (d) anal bondage” With kids these days, anal bondage is now 2nd base. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/26 "2005-05-07T17:33:08Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > “Please describe the relationship stage you have reached. (a) first base (b) second base (c) third base (d) anal bondage” What the hell is anal bondage? Confusing the Krazy Glue with the Astroglide? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/27 "2005-05-07T18:06:29Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > What the hell is anal bondage? Confusing the Krazy Glue with the Astroglide? > > 😃 Now _there’s_ a fun trip to the ER. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/28 "2005-05-07T23:40:12Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > What the hell is anal bondage? Confusing the Krazy Glue with the Astroglide? > > 😃 It’s work in a workplace as depicted by Dilbert, such that you feel constantly tied to an asshole. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/29 "2005-05-08T20:20:07Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > I think we’d all be better off if everyone treated work like me, if everyone was completely non-social and didn’t treat their co-workers as anything but complicated machines. I don’t have an attraction to anyone at work because I don’t have that part of my brain turned on when I’m at work. I don’t gossip, I don’t flirt, I don’t participate in office politics because to me it doesn’t matter, it’s all negligible and simply something to be struggled through until I can go home to my real life and real friends. Wow you sound like a blast at the office happy hours. Personally I see nothing wrong with occassionally getting drunk and making out with a coworker. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/30 "2005-05-08T20:43:04Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Personally I see nothing wrong with occassionally getting drunk and making out with a coworker. _pictures the people she works with_ Yecchh. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/31 "2005-05-08T20:53:29Z")
Sounds like a good policy to me. I think the hidden subtext is that they have no way of finding out that you’re dating someone outside of the workplace unless you open your big mouth about it, and as such, discrete relationships that don’t interfere with corporate performance will never be found out. I’ve always had a personal policy of never, ever dating the other help. I remember how weird things were back in school when I dated a girl I was in a class with, and then that went south, and… ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724/32 "2005-05-08T23:23:47Z")
Another HR person checking in, just to reiterate this type of policy is legal in the US and not that uncommon. The HR Specialist messing around with the VP, though, that’s no way to live. Essentiallyy the risks to the company are in the form of sexual harassment lawsuits, either in the form of unwanted advances left unchecked or\* quid pro quo\*, favors in exchange for favors. This is an attempt by the company to protect itself from such lawsuits. Companies can actually outright prohibit the dating, too, so in a sense this type of policy is a compromise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-new-policy-even-remotely-legal/302724.md?page=1)