Slashdot Mirror
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.'"
how did Bill and Melinda meet?
Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
While I was furiously searching for something insightful to write, I determined that this story is essentially devoid of value. I don't even know if there is an opportunity to trash Gates here. I know this is effectively a four day holiday for many people, but certainly there must be other stories with a modicum of news value worth posting.
Part of the hardcore faithful who believed in Apple long before it was cool again to do so
Isn't that just a factual statement? Relationships aren't forbidden, they're just telling you to exercise caution.
Besides, when an organization's mission is essentially to push money out the door, there is indeed more potential for conflict of interest. EVERY transaction is subject to scrutiny, because there can be legal consequences for favoritism. Less so with a corporation.
It doesn't say they're forbidden, it says they should be disclosed to HR. It's a fairly common practice.
Unless one of them didn't report directly to the other. Of course, then neither of them would be a subordinate.
Still, its hyprocritical.
While talking about the foundation: Anyone else notice that Warren Buffet is so rich that he hired Bill Gates to spend his money?
Cruising the internet on my TI-99/4A @ a whopping 300 baud!
In the company I work in (danish company) more than 10% of the employees are married to each other. And we are hundres of employees, so I think there's enough statistical data to toy with.
What if office romances was not allowed here? Why shouldn't it be allowed, as long as they are not romancing in the office? I regularly see people coming to work holding hands, and people from different departmens eating together, and that's it. I don't see any problems here. (But if people here keep marrying each other (or hiring spouses), this could be a family business in a few generations...)
Don't look for many comments on this topic...methinks the average Slashdotter has enough trouble with "romance", let alone the more specific "workplace romance".
Well, not exactly FUD, but certainly wilfully misinterpretation.
If you read the linked-to guide, it is primarily talking about situations in which an employee of the foundation has a relationship with someone who is a beneficiary, or potential beneficiary of the foundation.
Remember that a large part of the foundation's work is to give other organisations money. Obviously they need to ensure that conflicts of interest are known about and that people aren't using their influence to get money passed on to their loved ones. In their position, it would be madness not to have a policy like that, and I'm sure most similar organisations have something similar.
The document is mainly about relationships with people external to the company, but there is a small section about coworker romances. That section makes it quite clear that disclosure of office romances is only encouraged in situations where a conflict of interest could be a problem. The guideline is really very reasonable:
When deciding what kind of relationships should be disclosed, consider the situation from the perspective of an outsider and whether the relationship is of such a nature that it could raise an allegation of an apparent or actual conflict of interest, and then err on the side of transparency, as disclosure helps to alleviate or avoid future misunderstandings.
I assume then they would be talking about relationships where for instance the career advancement of one partner would be decided by the other partner in the relationship.
Nowhere in the document does it seek to discourage such workplace relationships.
The poster is just trying to whip up a bit of anti-Gates feeling out of thin air.
Nothing to see here, move along!
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]
Of course, everyone knew what was going on, and started eyeing you with suspicion when she turned out to be a Cylon, flipped out, and shot your CO.
In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199