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Workplace Romance 2.0: Developing a Communication Ethics Model to Address Potential Sexual Harassment from Inappropriate Social Media Contacts Between Coworkers

Author

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  • Lisa Mainiero

  • Kevin Jones

Abstract

This article examines ethical implications from workplace romances that may subsequently turn into sexual harassment through the use of social media technologies, such as YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, text messaging, IMing, and other forms of digital communication between office colleagues. We examine common ethical models such as Jones (Acad Manag Rev 16:366–395, 1991 ) issue-contingent decision-making model, Rest’s (Moral development: Advances in research and theory, 1986 ) Stages of Ethical Decision-Making model, and Pierce and Aguinis’s (J Org Behav 26(6):727–732, 2005 ) review of workplace romance versus sexual harassment issues. The article makes a contribution by developing a new communication ethics model that includes response positive and response negative contingencies to guide decision-making about inappropriate social media contacts that spillover into the workplace. In addition, we recommend that human resource personnel take a more active role in communicating appropriate ethical rules of conduct concerning the use of social media technologies inside and outside the office. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Mainiero & Kevin Jones, 2013. "Workplace Romance 2.0: Developing a Communication Ethics Model to Address Potential Sexual Harassment from Inappropriate Social Media Contacts Between Coworkers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 367-379, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:114:y:2013:i:2:p:367-379
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1349-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eve Chiapello & A. Hurand, 2011. "Contribution," Post-Print hal-00681170, HAL.
    2. Antonio Argandoña, 2011. "Beyond Contracts: Love in Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(1), pages 77-85, March.
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    6. Pierce, Charles A. & Broberg, Brandee J. & McClure, Jamie R. & Aguinis, Herman, 2004. "Responding to sexual harassment complaints: Effects of a dissolved workplace romance on decision-making standards," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 66-82, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Margaret C. Hardy, 2016. "Drafting an Effective Ethical Code of Conduct for Professional Societies: A Practical Guide," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Elena Casprini & Rocco Palumbo & Jacopo Cammeo & Lorenzo Zanni, 2025. "A ‘Grey’ Side of Family Business Ethics? Looking into the Interplay of Internal and External Ethical Orientations: Empirical Insights from the Wine Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 198(4), pages 749-770, May.
    3. Jūratė Kuklytė, 2018. "Cybersexual Harassment as ICTs Development Consequences: A Review," European Journal of Business Science and Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics, vol. 4(2), pages 187-195.
    4. Poba-Nzaou, Placide & Lemieux, Nathalie & Beaupré, Daniel & Uwizeyemungu, Sylvestre, 2016. "Critical challenges associated with the adoption of social media: A Delphi of a panel of Canadian human resources managers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 4011-4019.
    5. Anand, Amitabh & Doll, Jessica L. & Centobelli, Piera & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Cerchione, Roberto, 2023. "Struck by a cupid’s arrow: The conjuring bliss and sinister shades of employee workplace romance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

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