Love at first sight at work: what are the consequences?

Remember Daniel Cleaver? But yes, he was the boss and the lover of Bridget Jones in the first part of the saga. Admittedly, he was attractive. But he was also a real jerk. It is also because of him that our heroine finally decides to resign (in a memorable scene), no longer supporting the idea of working for the man who deceived her: “If working means being a few steps away from you, I prefer to wipe Saddam Hussein's buttocks! ”.

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Even if we welcome this magnificent departure, as Valentine's Day approaches, we still asked ourselves the question: Does love at work always lead to the exit? In Luxembourg, is this a legitimate reason for sanctions or even dismissal?

Between theory... and practice

According to the Luxembourg Constitution and according to the law, you have the right to respect for your private life. What does that mean in practice? That what you do in your private life is your business and that is nobody's business. And if someone decides to reveal information about your personal life publicly, they are likely to be punished. Moreover, if you see Michel (le) from the accounting department outside the office, you are in principle not obliged to refer it to your boss or colleagues.

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Technically, your employer cannot therefore prohibit you from maintaining a romantic relationship with a colleague.

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But that's the theory. In fact, it's not always so clear. And it is not Bridget who will say the opposite! If your romance, known to your employer, has a negative impact on the company, leads to a conflict of interest, favoritism, or some other type of abuse, the employer may react.

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What room for manoeuvre for your boss?

However, in this area, a discrepancy quickly occurred. The simple fact that Michel (the), because of one too many Gin Tonic, comes to reveal confidential information to you, exposes both of you to sanctions. In love, isn't the secret to a couple's longevity in not hiding anything from their partner, in being able to trust them everything on the pillow? At work, the rules are clear and too much language can quickly hurt you. At best, your boss might require one of you to change departments or departments. But it could be a lot worse.

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If the emotional relationship is known to colleagues, Suspicions of favoritism or conflicts of interest are sure to come to light.. It's just a matter of time. If Michel (le) is in fact your line manager and we realize that you regularly receive bonuses, while this is not necessarily the case with your colleagues, there is a risk of trouble.

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Certainly, someone could spit in your coffee as soon as your back is turned. But above all, your employer has a legitimate reason to intervene (against Michel (the) in this case), because it is a case of discrimination against other employees.

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It is also best to avoid romantic escapades that lead to repeated and unjustified absences from work. We will therefore avoid escaping in pairs (we do not know where) during working hours. This could give your boss a good reason to fire you for serious misconduct!

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As you will have understood, the romantic relationship in itself is not a reason for dismissal. But the problem situations that may arise at work or in relation to your responsibilities can work against you.

A solution: opt for love in the open

Is it enough to play it finely and to be as discreet as possible? This attitude is not without risks... Your secret secrets will certainly end up being revealed in broad daylight.

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So, if you feel that this story with Michel (the) is solid, we advise you to be transparent with your professional circle. A long-term secret relationship could get you in trouble. Not to mention the stress that it can cause by constantly hiding from you, paying attention to all your actions...

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Over time, it will become unbearable. And then, one Friday evening or the other, the HR director of the company, who will have chosen the same restaurant as you, will choke on his broccoli when he sees you and Michel (the), face to face at the back table, smooching each other.

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