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Workplace Romance A No-No at Gates Foundation
theodp writes "The past week has brought NY Times coverage of the workplace romance of Gates Foundation co-chairs Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Newsweek coverage of the workplace romance of Gates Foundation CEO Patty Stonesifer and her subordinate, Slate Editor-in-Chief Michael Kinsley. So the Foundation's Conflict of Interest Policy comes off as just a tad hypocritical: 'Additionally, certain types of relationships between co-workers may create impermissible conflicts of interest. For example, a romantic relationship in the workplace may raise perceptions of bias and favoritism.'"
Perhaps that's why this policy is in place? Didn't Melinda lead the Microsoft Bob development or something?
I shun from workplace relationships. Mainly because I don't want the people I work with to know a damn thing about my personal life...because I work in the Bible Belt at a large comapny. I am afraid of some girl telling her co-workers how I drink alot, enjoy "dark" music, how most of my books on my shelf are about the occult, and my other habits...I sorta have to lead a double life because I'm afraid of the backlash.
But I don't have too much trouble finding women outside of work (at least for a semi-random hookup), so I'm not looking too hard. I really don't like the whole "dating" scene, which reminds me of a drawn-out pay-per-view drain on my money with little guarentee of anything besides being treated like a chump.
Maybe we DID take the blue pill. You wouldn't remember anyway.
Okay. I'm not a fan of Bill Gates the-Microsoft-Chief-Architect, but COME ON! Bill most likely had nothing to do with writing this policy; this type of policy is so standard as to render it boilerplate for any business. I would not be surprised if those who seek to specialize in HR policy get a little handbook filled with legal boilerplate and a tutorial on "How to Thwart the Efforts of IT Applicants" upon graduation from business college.
If there is any point to this policy it is merely to serve as a warning and to force a level of discretion upon the participants that may otherwise not exist.
Bill and Melinda could care less who you date or marry; they care only about one thing: do your actions impact the 'company' in an adverse manner. If/When your dating relationship turns sour and you are dumped, can you handle seeing that person everyday in the office? If you are the dumper, probably, but if you are the one dumped? Be prepared to move on; if your attitude is "Screw that! *THEY* should move on!" or if you feel you would be unable to move on (for any reason) - well, maybe you should reconsider because you probably are not ready to get romantically involved with someone from your office.
[my story] I served in the US Air Force for far too long; during that time there were strict rules forbidding romances between members of the officer corp and members of the enlisted corp. She was an officer and I was enlisted; we conducted ourselves with a high level of discretion, worked in different areas of the base and did not call attention to ourselves...as did numerous other couples in the same situation as we. It was about professionalism and self-control. Period. [/my story]