SME Summer Leadership Series - inappropriate sexual relationships

Dealing with an inappropriate relationship in the workplace, especially as a SME owner or leader in New Zealand, is no walk in the park. It's a bit like navigating through a minefield – you've got to tread carefully.

First up, you've got to wrap your head around the legal stuff. In New Zealand, the law takes a pretty stern view on workplace sexual harassment, and that includes situations where there's an imbalance of power, like between a boss and an employee. The tricky part is that even if everyone's saying it's consensual, those power dynamics can skew things.

Then there's the whole ethical angle. As the person in charge, you're expected to keep things on the level, professional and respectful. If lines get crossed, it can stir up all sorts of issues, like people thinking there's favouritism or conflicts of interest. And it's not just about the people in the relationship – it affects the whole team's vibe.

Think about how this situation impacts everyone around, not just you and the person involved. It's about being compassionate and understanding the wider consequences on the team and workplace atmosphere.

If you find yourself in this situation, you might need to make some hard choices. Maybe it means ending the relationship or reshuffling roles to avoid any direct supervision scenarios. And it's a good prompt to check if your company's policies are up to date on these matters.

Encouraging a workplace culture where it's okay to learn from mistakes is crucial. It's all about owning up, learning, and moving forward.

Keeping things discreet and professional is key. You want to deal with it in a way that causes the least amount of upset and allows for healing.

Sometimes, you might need to get some advice from the experts – legal and HR folks who can help you navigate this tricky situation while keeping on the right side of the law and ethics. Being open with your team, where it makes sense, can help in maintaining that trust and transparency in your workplace.

And don't forget, this is also a chance for some personal reflection. It's an opportunity to think about your own boundaries and how you conduct yourself as a leader.

At the end of the day, it's about finding that balance – being legal, ethical, and compassionate. You want to look after everyone involved and maintain the integrity of your business. It's definitely not easy, but handling it with care and responsibility is the way to go.

No-one teaches this stuff, but at RegenerationHQ, we have the skills and capability to help you with this and a multitude of other small and large issues that can bedevil your business. If you’d like an informal conversation with John Luxton, please feel free to either book a call, email me at john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz or just pick up the phone +64 275 665 682. I’m around all summer and would be happy to chat.