One former HR practitioner shares their three craziest cases of office romance going horribly wrong.
At HRM, we’ve gotten to know a few HR professionals. One former practitioner shared with us the three craziest situations of office romance going horribly wrong. Names and other details have been omitted to protect the innocent.
The boat that rocked
Office Christmas parties can be whacky affairs. While working for a large manufacturing company, our protagonist found themselves aboard a cruise boat in Sydney Harbour with the champagne, music and good times flowing.
“There started to be talk of two people seeming to be having an extra good time in the boat’s only bathroom,” our source explained. “It was then that someone noticed that both the CEO and his EA were missing…needless to say there were some very red faces and two resignations the next day.”
The lesson? If you fancy someone, pick somewhere other than a boat – and the Christmas party – to make your move.
Bewitched
When two employees – both with spouses – were found getting frisky in the car park, people started to talk. The woman involved in this liaison, who was also a high-ranking member of staff, went ‘postal’ one day, screaming that it was all lies.
They both soon resigned (“Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” was played over the intercom). Nowadays they’ve got three kids together. I guess that is a happy ending?
Keep it in the family
While working for a food manufacturer, a man – let’s call him John – stormed into one of the bakeries the company owned, wielding a firearm and threatening a man who was having an affair with his mother.
The twist? John’s mother worked at the bakery. So did John himself, and also the man having an affair with his mother. His father? Well, he was employed at the bakery too…
I’ve got two jokes to end this one, so take your pick:
- Forget it baby, it’s Chinatown.
- Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
I’m here all week, folks!
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. When asked if there were any less tragic stories of romance from their time in HR, our informant happily told us they met their spouse at work.
