My company allowed relationships that did not involve one party reporting to the other directly or indirectly. But they stressed caution, nothing though that any reasonable person would do anyway. (Like taking no for an answer.)
It strikes me that anyone asking a subordinate out would have to wonder if a positive response was due to actual interest or to fear. Even if the subordinate took the initiative, you’d have to wonder if this was from interest or trying to get ahead. Doesn’t seem worth it in either case.
A mainstream Western social life would be individuals of the opposite sex socializing outside chaperoned environments and includes such ideas as meeting a potential spouse through “dating” (i.e., self-initiated, activities involving unmarried men or women alone together) or otherwise socializing with them in an informal manner. Most people in Western, mainstream culture met their partners this way. Some do not and may prefer to use matchmakers.
If one of the two people were transferred to the other person’s department and suddenly had to report to that other person, either directly or indirectly, would they be expected to break off their romantic relationship?
No idea. But people don’t randomly get transferred, so I doubt it would ever come up.
If the senior person in the relationship requested the junior person in her/his department, that would be a problem.
BTW, I read more about the Intel situation in the Register today. The rule only stems from 2011. Also, there is a lot of speculation that the CEO was kicked out because they were not happy with him, and the affair was used as an excuse. The article also said that this kind of thing happened all the time and no one else was ever fired for it.
So it might have nothing to do with sex and everything to do with corporate politics.