Many do not understand the reason for rules concerning romances in the workplace. Many understand them but prefer to ignore them. Then too, many businesses have no rules concerning such things. Those larger businesses that have no such rules likely will… as the results of a romance in the workplace.

The truth of the matter is, romances in the workplace frequently do work well, maybe 70% of the time. Where the problem is, is the other 30%. Let’s say that a real looker works two cubicles down from you and you see her in the elevator every day. She smiles and the next thing you know, your dating. Next thing you know, you ask her to marry you and she says yes.

Sounds like things are going to work out really well. Then, one day, you get a new boss, who is also her boss. Then one day, she’s no longer interested in you but rather the new boss. (after all he does make more money) So, now how are you going to feel having to work with the one you almost married and the one that took her from you.

Some people handle such things one way. Some handle it the other. There is frequently anger. There is sometimes violence. Now you are starting to realize why most large companies don’t like romances in the work place. It is very easy for the triangles to form, which can cause real problems. Personally, if I were the one in charge of the three of above in the imaginary triangle, they’d all be looking for another position. No leader, no manager wants to deal with such things if they don’t have to.

The problems can pop up in all sorts of ways. Let’s reverse the above. Maybe the woman takes up with her boss and then the boss takes up with another woman. In this day and age, maybe he leaves her for a man. On the other hand, what if a boss takes up with a woman, and she gets all the preferences. She gets the better tasks and the better marks. You do the harder work and she gets the privileges.

The real problem is that even if there is a perception of such a thing, the gossip goes around the office and before you know it and the position of the leader is badly compromised. I’m sure it is not restricted to offices. I am sure it happens in colleges and even in churches. Yes. That’s a fact, love triangles do form in churches and it can result in churches splintering into pieces. I have seen it.0

Now. As bad as all this might be, where the problem can get really bad is in the military. They can form for the same reasons and in the same way. They can have similar results as well. There is one big difference, well maybe three. No one can just quit. No one can just fire the people at fault. And finally, it can happen right in the middle of a shooting battle. The little problem has just made a life and death situation become worse.

We in the US have something of an advantage. We truly have such a big superior armed forces, we can deal with such things and still fight the war. Imagine if you will, a battle where we have a superior enemy force. Do you really want to be a captain in charge of a riffle company, about 200 soldiers, and one of these triangles pops up when you are and your men are struggling to stay alive. If you are a woman, do you want to put your complaint on hold until after the battle or do you risk lives and bring it to the notice of your commanding officer at once.

In some places, military life can be similar to civilian life. All the branches do have offices that are run similar to civilian offices. I have no problems with women in those environments. However, they don’t belong in foxholes, especially in the same foxhole as me. Moreover, they do not belong on ships. The captain of that ship does not need any distractions, even in peacetime. Certainly, he doesn’t need any love triangles. Moreover, the captain does have one more thing to deal with. Perhaps 300 men in the presence of 3 or 4 women.

Regardless, if it will cause problems, during a war it is the wrong time to find out. It can become a very deadly experiment. Romance on a cruise ship might be great. Not so much on a destroyer or aircraft carrier.