Office Relationship Contracts: Drafting “Love Contracts”


Summary

This practice note provides guidance on the main terms of an Office Relationship Contract. When an employer chooses to permit employees to date and/or marry—or must allow fraternization under the privacy laws of the relevant state—the employer should consider requiring the employees to execute an Office Relationship Contract (sometimes called a “love contract”). The purpose of such a contract is to help avoid potential sexual harassment liability if the employees’ romantic relationship ends and one of the employees then makes a hostile work environment claim.