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My question is in regard to rules and regulations on relationships in and
outside of the workplace. Is it legal for the company to dictate who may form
friendships or who may associate with one another outside of the workplace?
Signed,
Seeking To Associate
Dear
Associate:
I use the term "associate" because it is currently an approved label for co-workers and because your question pertains to your association with others. What prompts your question would make a difference in the answer to this question.
If it is "can management dictate that an employee not date another employee," the answer might hinge upon whether you are in the military where such restrictions may apply between superiors and subordinates. If the question is "can management dictate that its employees not associate with a competing firm because of security pertaining to R&D secrets," the answer might be that such associations, although not illegal, are frowned upon. Usually in such instances employers will have workers sign confidentiality agreements and the breaching of these agreements is unethical.
On the whole in our free society, no employer dare dictate who befriends whom. Managers disapproval about friendships which do not interfere with on the job performance should simply not happen, and if it does their subordinates should defy it.
WEGO should drive out fear.
--Bill Gorden