“There’s no more secret anymore.” Johnny added to Thomas’s comment. On this Friday noon time, Lily joined her colleagues (or co-workers) having lunch at a restaurant near the yacht port. Thomas helped six of them to place their meal orders through the QR code that was tagged on their dining table. While waiting for their food to be served, they brought up various topics in the conversation.
“Someone took a video at the place of interest and share it on the internet. And, here come’s the interesting part. Some people in a company spotted the couple that was appeared to be walking by the roadside, at the background of that video clip. This has become a big hoo-hah. Many people were talking about it. That couple… the man was a boss and the woman was his secretary. Their corporate’s HR (i. e. Human Resources Department) has now looked into this matter of ‘Sexual Harassment’ thingy.” Thomas shared a hot topic that he read and heard from the multimedia.
“Many people have eagle-eyes; and they enjoy analysing on every little detail in the photo or video.” Johnny continued.
Lily didn’t quite get the topic as she wasn’t the type that would follow gossiping topics on the internet. It was just not her interest. She tried to grasp what her colleagues were talking about.
“Were they holding hands?” Fahmi asked.
“Yeah, in the video, they were holding hands.” Thomas replied.
“Oops! Oh, boy…” Fahmi shook his head a little and then took a sip of his lime juice.
Lily roughly can gauge the picture of this gossip topic now. She didn’t add any comment; for one, she didn’t read the full story; two, she was busy analysing this sexual harassment topic behind her mind.
With some private yacht parked at the port, they conversation topic got easily shifted onto topics that linger around boat rides, license to drive a boat and boat cruise BBQ plan.
Finally, their food was served. Some jokes were cracked while enjoying their lunch; and laughter echoed. Lily joined in the conversation as well. They had a wonderful lunch time during that drizzling rainy afternoon.
On their way back to office, Lily and Johnny joined in Thomas’s carpool, while the other two colleagues joined Fahmi’s car. Lily stayed silence, didn’t pay much attention to the conversation both gentlemen were having.
She was lost in her monkey mind.
‘Sexual Harassment‘ is a sensitive topic and a serious subject if it happens within a company.
(That was the basic understanding to most people.)
Lily stared at the rainy view through the car window, from the back seat.
(Some people, they seemed quite excited to hear such thing happened in one’s company. Was it so entertaining? Such gossip would explode and get exposed fast; like a deadly virus. Gossips could easily spread through the multimedia to worldwide, in short period of time.)
(How taboo could this ‘Sexual Harassment’ be? Let’s break it down and see.) Lily’s business analyst working mode has somewhat ignited.
(One. If it was happened between two people… that were not having any chemical effect between them at all, then yeah, that would cause inconvenience to one party that doesn’t see the relationship in a romantic way. That would not be allowed in a company as it affects one’s right in having a positive working environment.)
(Two. If it was happened between two people that couldn’t help but fell for each other BUT one of them was already committed to a relationship or married, then this would then be the so-called taboo and not socially or morally acceptable. To HR or company’s point of view, such gossip might affect the image a company has been presenting itself to the world, thus far. Which is also why HR would quickly step in to stop such ‘improper’ relationship between two employees in time and to prevent it from further causing more damages to the company.)
(Three. If the couple in the subject of discussion were holding quite an important role in the company they were working at, then that might trigger certain level of ‘Conflict of Interest’ or ‘Insider Dealing’ in the company. The couple might accidentally or openly share or leak some sensitive information of the company between themselves and even tweak the rational decision making each of them should demonstrate when performing their job professionally. Hmm… That sounds serious.)
“Lily, you okay? Want to listen to some songs on the radio?” Thomas looked at Lily through the reversed mirror and asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Some music would be great. Thanks, Thomas.” Lily replied with a delighted tone and returned him with a smile. Music started echoing in the car. Lily paused her analytical mind for a few seconds.
(But, what if… the couple… both parties happened to fall for each other and they were both single?) Lily continued her analysis while her eyes were looking at the traffic light that has red light on.
(What if the position they hold in the company wasn’t inter-related and would not trigger or cause any Conflict of Interest? Would this still a taboo in the company? Is there a need to have HR stepping up to break their relationship then? I don’t think so…)
(Well… There are many people happened to fall in love with their team member or co-worker that they have worked closely with. Ah! Isn’t there another celebrity (Taiwanese singer) who ended up proposing to his manager that has been assisting him in managing his working schedule and monitoring his daily arrangements, such as transportation, accommodation and even meals? Ermm… Those international dancers or ice-skating team of two, how sure would you tell that none of them turned out to be a couple?)
(Why would such thing happen to them? Can I just simplify it and say that it could be due to the daily interactions between two individuals. At work, we spend at least eight-hour a day. We interact with our co-worker(s), throughout that five working-days. That means we might have spent more time with co-workers than with our family members, friends or strangers. Each individual gets to know each other more; gets to learn each other’s way of thinking and doing things. It is not surprise to find someone’s energy and mindset that vibes along with another person. Chances are, they might decide to deepen their work relationship to love-relationship. So, what’s wrong with that? I would like know.)
(What’s wrong with that? Why the need to have third party to interfere and break the relationship between these two people – i. e. the couple? Are we over-reacted on certain situations?)
(Let’s get back to corporate world. If the love-relationship between two employees was exposed and being brought to HR’s attention… what action would be required from them then? If they announce to the company that they are an officially committed couple or they are tying the knot, would the taboo situation now become OKAY and acceptable? Or… if one of them just resign and leave the company, the ‘sexual harassment’ topic no longer valid, and their love-relationship would then be OKAY to continue? Is that the outcome a company would like to achieve? I wonder.)
“Back to work.” Johnny said to both Thomas and Lily when they were heading back to their work station.
“Yupe, TGIF! A few more hours to go.” Thomas’ happy-vibed words followed. Lily returned them with a broad smile.
Lily, the professional business analyst, single, has been spending nearly nine to ten hours working in the office. But, still, she would keep a safe distance with her colleagues, throughout her career life. She doesn’t take her relationship with other people, lightly. She just wanted to be more responsible to herself and take up any consequences that might arise from her decision made or action taken. Even so, Lily can’t firmly guarantee that she would push away any love-relationship that gets developed with a single man (her colleague) in the company.
(If by any chance… I have developed a love-relationship with another single man in the company… that’s not too bad, right? As long as I’m not being a third-party to a married man; as long as our relationship would not causing any conflict of interest at work… Wouldn’t that be fine? I’m not into one-night stand and definitely not a flirtatious playful person that would cause a mess or drama at work.)
Lily was able to lay on the table a clearer picture of the pros and cons of this topic that occupied her mind since lunch time. She reached some rational steps she would take if that ever happened to her, as well.
(Worse case, I’d just change a job then. Work is work; and Work is just part of one’s life. Job offer can be found everywhere; it depends on what preference an employee is looking for. But, for love-relationship, how many would treat it as a high-turnover matter? Not me. Well… Everyone has their priority set and what they want in their life. I have my priority too. No right or wrong. No point comparing as well.)
(Alright, time to bring my focus back onto the analysis report that I need to submit today.) Lily quickly cleared her mind and re-direct her analytical mind onto the work matter. She targeted to finish the report and submit the report her manager, by five p.m.; she didn’t want to work overtime on that cozy Friday.
‘Work-Life Balance’ is also another hard to juggle topic to many working professionals but Lily tried her best to balance both in her life. Not for others but for herself.