Jeff Larroca discusses love contracts in the workplace (Observer)
May 4, 2016
Jeff Larroca, a labor and employment attorney in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office was recently quoted in an Observer article titled “Binding Agreement: Co-Working Couples Now Sign ‘Love Contracts.’” One kind of love contract described in the article is the legal document that co-working couples sometimes sign in an office setting as a promise that their relationship will not lead to distractions or conflicts of interest in the workplace.
Larroca said that while a love contract can serve as a protective measure against a sexual harassment lawsuit, accusations of favoritism or gender discrimination can still be spread in the office.
“The boss has to tell them from the get-go ‘Look, you have to fess up to this to avoid any problems or liability,” he was quoted as saying.
Given that spouses can sometimes be unwilling to take this step (and indeed won’t want their use of a love contract to be publicized), Larroca said the documents have more risks than benefits, and as such he does not recommend that his clients sign them.
“I’ve never utilized them, and I’m not so sure they’re a great idea,” he said.
The full article is available on the Observer website. (Access to content on third-party websites may require subscription.)