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Question:- If you have sex with your boss should you expect to be sacked?
First it was a married insurance chief executive's affair with a junior member of staff.
His reputation was damaged and she left the company “to avoid any apparent conflict of interest”.
The insurance company actually has a policy that bans long-term relationships between executives and their direct subordinates.
Then came a woman at a City asset management company who accidentally emailed the entire firm about her intimate rendezvous with a senior colleague.
She offered to resign, he didn't. So, if you have sex with a superior at work, is it a fair cop to be sacked when you're rumbled? I went to the City to ask what Londoners think.
No
Tom, 39, banker
I dated my boss for a while in a previous job and it was great. Business trips took on a whole new meaning. She wasn't the reason I left the company, either.
No
Marcus, 24, retail assistant
Surely if you sleep with your boss, you should expect to get a promotion, not get sacked — depending on how good the sex is, of course.
Yes
Chris, 27, banker
It does happen. There were rumours in my office once that a girl was being sent applications for new jobs by her boss. They would turn up in her in-box every day after she and her boss shagged.
No
Sarah, 29, publisher
It ought to be the other way around. It should be the boss that gets sacked for abusing their position of power, but I suppose it never really works like that.
No
Nadia, 29, accountant
Expecting to get sacked if you had sex with your boss would ruin so many opportunities for relationships. Lots of people meet their partners at work and one person is often more senior.
Yes
Erin, 26, accountant
I had sex, not with my direct boss, but someone above me at work. Fortunately, I'm actually leaving next month anyway because I don't think it would go down too well if anyone found out. He has a girlfriend.
No
Sherene, 33, restaurant manager
I married my boss, so no. Usually, if anything, it helps you get promoted.
No
Jessica, 28, production assistant
It definitely shouldn't happen. Although, an
ex-colleague of mine walked out of work because our boss thought she was in love with him. He was a bit nuts and had this weird idea and she felt she had to leave as a result.
Yes
James, 22, student
It shouldn't happen, but you have to be so careful. If you had sex with your boss and it got awkward in the office, they would probably start looking for reasons to get rid of you.
Reader views (6)
I think as long as you keep it as sexual and separate any perceived awkwardness, it should be fine. The thing about women is that they expect to be treated differently in the workplace by dressing in little dresses, high heals, etc. If I'm attracted to a woman, I may sleep with her. That doesn't mean that I'm going to treat her differently in any way. It's relationships I don't do with coworkers, no sex
- Jakehalasted, New York, New York, 02/12/2009 18:11
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It happened to me once when I was a young single mum, many years ago, when I went to work for an engineering consultant on a 6-months contract. I woke up with my boss, after a one-night stand, to hear him telling me I was fired. Funny that, you'd think he'd been forced into it. He didn't get away with it because I threatened to go public about dodgy dealings within the company if they didn't cough up what was due to me.
- Yvonne, London, UK, 11/11/2009 16:11
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Yikes have you seen my boss?
- Goggs, London, 11/11/2009 15:21
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I hope not, I work for myself.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 10/11/2009 13:28
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Two weeks after I got married I interviewed for a job a 21 year old girl with the most gorgeous eyes, seven days later we had progressed past the point of no return, that was 1978, I have never regretted it, I dont think she has, as we now have a 15 year old daughter and she is still my best friend.
- Jim Alan, Lake District., 10/11/2009 13:10
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you expect to get promoted surely?
- Clare, london, 10/11/2009 12:46
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