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Within the workplace, numerous relationships develop: boss and assistant; co-workers; senior and junior; cleaner and worker; so on and so forth. Any form of human interaction will result in relationships forming. And when kept exclusively to the workplace, these relationships will often remain purely professional, will little risk of them causing too much friction.

However, as soon as people begin to mix their work relationships with their personal ones, friendships develop. People become closer and the office dynamis becomes a more welcoming and “friendly” place to be. This is what most companies strive for these days, and on the whole, it works out well.

But these relationships can start to impact on the work ethic of a department: numerous people coming in tired and lethargic from a shared “busy” weekend; chatting often and throughout the working day, leaving little time to for work. It can become a problem.

By setting clear guidelines for what is, and what is not, acceptable behaviour, you give your staff the rules they need to get their job done and to keep hold of it, and also give them the freedom and trust them to use their own judgement.