How do you handle it when you find out about a workplace interpersonal/romantic relationship on your team?

Our reader poll today asks: How do you handle it when you find out about a workplace interpersonal/romantic relationship on your team?

• I stay out of it. It’s none of my business 27.59%
• I refer them to HR to discuss complying with any company policies 41.00%
• I tell them to keep their personal lives private and out of the office 29.88%
• I tell them the relationship is improper and should end 1.53%

Managing relationships at work. While almost 30% of you say you stay out of office relationship dynamics, the vast majority of you refer these situations to HR or try to shut down the relationship. Romantic relationships in the office can get messy, especially when they don’t work out. They can create perceptions around favoritism, inequity, and general discomfort for coworkers. If you’re in the 30% who mind your own business, recognize that at some point that relationship might become your business when relationship issues spill over into performance issues. Consider going to HR now to get a good understanding of your company’s office relationship policies and know your responsibilities for discussing those situations with HR or executive management when they arrive.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.