Why Smart Companies Discourage Office Romance - A Matter of Integrity, Not Emotion - By Taghogho Von Apochi
In today’s corporate world, office romance might seem inevitable. After all, we spend nearly one-third of our lives at work. But in high-performing organizations, especially those where compliance, control, and accountability are mission-critical, romance in the workplace is not just discouraged; it is forbidden . At AXA , where I previously worked, there’s a strict policy: no couples are allowed to work under the same corporate umbrella, whether at AXA Health , AXA Investment , or AXA Insurance . This wasn’t to crush companionship or human connection; it was a proactive safeguard against conflicts of interest . Let’s be clear: when partners work in departments that require mutual independence, like Internal Fraud Investigations (SYSCON) and Sales, there’s a serious risk of bias, manipulation, and covert collusion. Picture a wife working in SYSCON and a husband in Sales. If sales numbers are being reviewed for irregularities, can we honestly expect full objectivity? 💬 As one...