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October 17,1990 The Portland Observer Page 5
Dating In The Workplace
BY C.M. BROOKS
BY ULLYSSES TUCKER, JR.
ating in the workplace. We
worthy of mentioning. There are far
more serious reasons why dating in the
have been bombarded with
workplace
should not be practiced.
countless magazine articles from
PROBLEM
1: Jealousy. Not be­
Essence to Newsweek espousing this
tween
the
two
people
who are involved,
alternative to the standard dating
but
by
other
co-workers.
They have a
scene. We have viewed television talk-
legitimate
reason
to
feel
that
your time
shows such as Oprah and Phil for in­
and
service
is
being
monopolized
by
sight about finding a suitable mate in
your
new
romance.
They
may
feel
the workplace. But is this widespread
slighted by your lack of interest in what
practice the answer to our dating woes?
they
are doing.
Or is it just the beginning to never
PROBLEM
2: Objectivity or Sub­
ending problems?
jectivity?
If
you
are
a superior involved
Well, here is the good news, folks.
with
a
subordinate
co-worker how do
Past studies have shown that work pro­
you rationalize a pay-raise or a promo­
ductivity is higher for those co-workers
tion? How do you remain objective
who are involved with each other.
without alienating your other co­
Why? The answer is quite simple.
workers or worse, infuriating your
Because they are happier. They are hap­
lover! When you are involved with
pier with their lives and about that
someone at work coupled with a posi­
other individual. And when an in­
tion o f authority, you run the risk of
dividual is content there is tendency to
short-changing others who work with
work more effectively and more
you. It doesn’t matter if your office
diligently. Work, as a result, is no
mate is an industrious worker, there
longer seen as a tiresome, monotonous
will always be speculation about that
chore. As a matter of fact, co-workers
person’s quacations and job perfor­
who are involved actually want to be at
mance and problems will arise because
their place of employment! They are
of it.
not only eager to be with that special
P R O B L E M 3: E m p lo y e rs .
person, but they are enthusiastic about
Employers are aware of this in-house
performing their work duties.
One has to honestly admit that this dating and some of them don’t like it
reason is persuasive enough to convince for various reasons. Some employers
even the most severe critics, such as discourage it at all levels because once
myself, that dating a co-worker is the honeymoon is over, the problems
ac cep tab le , very p ra c tic a l, and begin. No one wants two people who
beneficial to some extent. But, are angry with each other over a per­
although it is a valid reason, it is the sonal issue in their place of business or
only aspect o f this type o f mingling people who have lost their professional
D
objectivity. Some workers have found
themselves without a job for dating a
co-worker. Yes, some businesses are so
adamant about not having their co­
workers involved with each other that
they have terminated the romance by
terminating the employees.
This writer has a s.Tong aversion to
dating a co-worker, but far be it for me
to tell anyone who they should date and
who they shouldn’t date. I fully under­
stand that some people do not have
many opportunities to meet people
other than at their job. But I will sug­
gest that you ask yourself questions
like: Can I deal with being ostracized by
other co-workers? Can I handle
rumors? Will I be able to deal with a
break-up? How will seeing that person
after a break-up affect my work perfor­
mance? Can I trust that person not to
divulge our private life?
If you have trouble answering these
questions or have some doubt about
how you might feel in this type of situa­
tion or if you have been asked by a co­
worker for a date and you feel uncom­
fortable about it, then do what I do. I
simply ask myself why am I here? Why
am I working? The answers always
come back to I am here for economic
reasons, to develop and practice skills
acquired in college, and to gain
knowledge and work experience.
Everything else is secondary. I don’t
take my work home with me and I don’t
bring my private life to work. Period.
here are several old sayings
everyone that works with you. Working
like, “it is not wise to dip your
two different shifts is helpful too. Some
pen in company ink” and countless
companies go as far as to suggest (in
others that do not encourage people to
writing upon being hired) that if you
date on the job. Over the last decade of
marry someone on the job, one of you
my corporate life, I have not found the
has to leave. Other companies do not
opportunity or met a co-worker that I
allow married couples to work in the
felt compelled to date. Sure, I’ve gone
same department. The larger the cor­
to parties, movies, jogging, to concerts,
poration, the better chance for survival
and a host of other events with female
in an on-the-job relationship and there
co-workers, but nothing serious ever
are those who would debate or argue
developed. It was like an unwritten rule
against this position. In some industries
that was never really talked about or
like communications for example,
discussed. On the other hand, I’ve wat­
people date on the job all the time and
ched other co-workers meet and fall in
some attribute this to the amount of
love instantly. Eternal bliss as they say.
time spent together on the job or
I’ve also watched friendships and
because of the irregular work hours.
ultimately failed relationships turn the
All you see day in and day out are the
workplace into a battle zone. Ugly,
same faces. I think that it boils down to
especially when the two people have job
what each individual is comfortable
with or the standards they set in
responsibilities that overlap and pro­
mote consistent interaction with each
establishing relationships. I know
other. This tension can lead to someone
countless couples at the Oregonian,
getting fired or provoke a manager to
KATU-TV, and other places who met
call both of them to his/her office for a
their mate on the job and are happy.
serious conference.
The situation that turned ugly was at
In the situations where I’ve seen
CNN in Atlanta. An anchor person ter­
these “on-the-job” relationships suc­
minated a relationship with a floor
ceed, they have been in very large cor­
director and believe me, there were
porations or companies where there
some very late cues and looks into the
was limited contact or met in a social
wrong camera. It was resolved in the
situation where neither knew the other
manager’s office with a change in shifts
for the floor director.
worked for the same company. Cor­
porations like Boeing, Georgia-Pacific,
On another issue, there are those
General Motors, and US WEST Com­
who refuse to date people in the same
munications might fall into this
professional organization, health club,
classification. It’s very difficult to know
college/university, or church for that
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ARMY AND AIRFORCE HOMETOWN NEWS
year-old 1985 graduate of Jefferson High
School, Portland.
As the seemingly never-ending flow
of troops continue to arrive, men and
women on the ground are enhancing
their defensive positions performing their
job specialties and constructing make­
shift living arrangements.
Harding said, “ Since my arrival I
have been helping set up our living an
Kuwait’s government,’’ said the com­
munications analyst assigned to the 174th
Military Intelligence Company, Fort Mon­
mouth, N.J.
Harding and his wife, Kelly, have
one son, Michael Jr.
Soldiers march with their respective
companies shortly after arrival for duty
in Saudi Arabia (U.S.Army photo by
John A. Bohmer)
matter because o f their convictions.
These situations, in mv opinion, are
great places to meet people or establish
potential friendships that might lead to
a relationship. Now, the big question,
what constitutes working together?
Working in the same office? The same
company or large corporation? The
same committee at church? Freelance
writing for the same newspaper, where
you have limited contact if any at all?
Serving on the same community
board? People again, define their own
standards when it comes to dating.
Now what constitutes dating? A
movie? Jogging together? Meeting for
a drink? A football game? Dating does
not mean sleeping with someone.
There’s nothing worse than coming to
work tired and teased by your co­
workers when everyone knows your
mate. People can be cruel. Then there
are those, for their own personal
reasons, do not like the idea o f every­
one knowing their business. Nothing as
personal as a relationship should be
aired out in public. Some people use
work as an excuse to keep others at bay.
Though I have never had a relation­
ship with someone at work, I will never
rule out the possibility or say never.
Never say never. In this day and age of
confusion, moral decay, and erosion of
basic values, I will take a good person
or mate any day. If we know the
positives and negatives surrounding
our choice, then go for it. Love is where
you find it.
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES COMMISSIONER
MARY WENDY ROBERTS
RELEASES NEW BROCHURE
TARGETED AT WORKING YOUTH
Titled “ Know Your Rights” this
new brochure released by Commissioner
Mary Wendy Roberts, is a wallet-sized
hot-pink brochure that gives young people
a run-down of their rights as workers.
“ Young people often do not know
where to turn when they have questions
about the workplace,” said Commis­
sioner Roberts. “ By making this bro­
chure available to
youngsters when they
apply for a work per­
mit, and by making it
available to schools
around the state, we
hope to reach the chil­
dren before they have
questions-and if they
still have questions,
now they’ll know
where to call for an­
swers.”
The Bureau of
Labor and Industries
enforces laws protect­
ing working Oregonians and has a long
history as an advocate for working chil­
dren. Oregon’s first child labor laws hit
the books in 1903 when children were
barred from working under dangerous
conditions in mills and on construction
sites.
In recent years, the State Wage and
Hour Commission, which is staffed by
the bureau’s wage and hour division, has
focused on child labor issues. Its recent
ruling to limit the working hours of 14
and 15 year old children during school
hours, and Robert’s initiation of a Child
Labor Task Force illustrate a growing
concern about the long range effects of
work on children.
“ The conflict o f school and work,
and the transition of students from school
to meaningful work are top issues for us
today,’ ’ noted Roberts. ‘ ‘Too many chil­
dren are dropping out
of school and opting
for unskilled jobs that
promise them only a
marginal future. They
are depriving them­
selves of an education,
better career opportu-
nities-and they are
depriving Oregon of
the skilled workforce
it needs to compete in
a global economy.
Working is a great
experience for many
youngsters, but it
should be the concern o f every Orego­
nian that all our children complete high
school. When kids are working, their fair
treatment should be our utmost concern.”
“ Know Your Rights” will insure
that working children have a quick refer­
ence guide to their rights. The brochures
are available at all bureau offices. Com ­
missioner Roberts is also writing to all
the state’s school counselors to inform
them about the pocket-guides and en­
courage distribution to all their students.
METRO AGREES TO PURCHASE
SEARS BUILDING
Michael Ft. Harding
BY MARSHALL B. WILKINS
Eastern Saudi Arabia-A jumbo cargo
aircraft, sporting a light green/dark green
camouflage paint job, looks more than
slighdy out of place sprawled on the sun
baked sandy desert floor. The ‘ ‘beasts’s”
mechanical jowls are still agape having
just released a large contingent of rifle
toting, backpack carrying soldiers.
Their facial features arc distorted
behind the tinted, oversized goggles they
wear to protect themselves from relent­
less solar rays and seasonal sandstorms.
These arc faces etched in equal parts of
determination, bewilderment and antici­
pation
U.S. Army Spec. Michael R. Har-
ding, son of Peter and Majoric Harding,
Portland, is one of the servicemembers
ordered to duty in this Middle eastern
country by President George Bush. He’s
here as a member of a multinational
force to halt further Iraqi aggression.
Operation Desert Shield is the world’s
response to Saddam Hussein sending le­
gions of troops storming across the bor­
der to annex tiny oil-rich Kuwait.
The reactions of soldiers here are
almost as numerous as the troops that
land on the swirling dusty surface plan­
eload after planeload.
“ I left Fort Monmouth August 30
and arrived here Sept. 1 excited and not
knowing what to expect because I didn’t
know the current situation,’ ’ said the 23-
working areas, and participating in train­
ing exercises.”
American ‘fighting men’ don't know
how long they’ll be stationed here. They
can only voice their hopes about what
will happen next and what the final out­
come of this crisis will be.
“ I’d I ike to sec th is crisis end peace­
fully. But if force is needed to drive Iraq
out of Kuwait, I’m prepared to defend
American interests and help restore
The Metropolitan Service District
will move its offices to Portland’s east
side Lloyd District, after reaching an
agreement in principle to purchase the
former Sears Building at 524 NE Grand
Ave. from Pacific Development, Inc.
(PDI). The purchase price is $5.15 mil­
lion.
The execution of the sale agreement
is subject to an inspection of the building
and a feasibility analysis which Metro
will complete within 67 days. If all goes
well, it's expected that Metro will reno­
Flightline workers unload a heli­ vate the building and move into its new
copter from a Military Airlift Command offices in about 18 months.
aircraft >n Saudi Arabia. Troops and
renovation is projected to cost about
equipment arrive on a regular basis. (U.S. $9.5 million and could potentially in­
Army photo by John A. Bohmer)
clude removal of the facade that now
covers the building,as well as construc­
U.S. Army Spec. Michael R. Har­ tion of an atrium in the center of the
ding prepares to write a letter home building. Metro is still evaluating a number
during his off-duty time at a camp in of financing options.
Saudi Arabia. (U.S. Army photo by John
Metro will renovate the interior of
A. Bohmer)
the four-story, 183,000 square foot build­
ing tor use as office and retail space. The
agency plans to use about 55,000 square
feet of office space and lease the remain­
der. The interior is currently 100% open
space.
The purchase price includes an at­
tached parking garage with 460 spaces.
The basement of the building will be
converted to indoor parking, giving the
building a total of more than 600 parking
spaces. As part of the sale agreement,
Metro will assume PDI’s obligation to
provide up to 346 parking spaces for the
new state office building being built
nearby.
Rena Cusma, Metro executive offi­
cer, long expressed a desire to move the
agency to the Lloyd District in order to
be closer to the Oregon Convention Center
and Memorial Coliseum, for which Metro
has management responsibility, and to
provide better accessibility for the pub­
lic. Metro currently Ieases45,000 square
feet of space at 2000 SW First Ave. in
Portland.
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