An Office Romance

QUESTION

An office romance

a) What is the problem that needs to be attended to in this case? (15marks)

b) What should the main character do in this case? (15marks)

Introduction

An office romance passage details relationships between Bill, a supervisor and his two female subordinates, Mary and Claudette. It is evident in the story that Bill had an appetite for association with younger junior female employees. The desire by Bill to spend time with junior female employees leaves a lot to be desired. In terms of public sector governance, it is difficult for Bill to discuss any strategic issues with Mary and Claudette since their positions in the organisation are different. One can easily suggest that although Bill had not made any sexual moves towards the two junior female employees, he had created some intimacy space for himself. It was going to be a question of time before sexual covets would manifest.

There is however nothing in the passage that indicates that Bill made any unwanted advances to either Claudette or Mary. it is, according to the information presented, Claudette who appeared to be the aggressor during lunch. It was Bill who appeared to be surprised by Claudette’s actions. If Claudette was telling the truth at the time, there was improper behaviour by Bill. Bill was the supervisor and that position put him in authority to ensure appropriate behaviour by subordinates. Bill was also responsible for his actions. He was supposed to ensure that his actions could not be misinterpreted and that whatever he was doing was above reproach.

By definition, workplace romance exists when two members of the same organisation develop a relationship with mutual attraction. It appears in the story that there was mutual attraction between Bill and Claudette. On the other hand, sexual harassment can be defined as anything in word or deed that is sexual in nature and which makes the other person...