Partner Gary Phelan Weighs in on Office Romance Policies on “Melissa in the Morning”
07/22/2025HSSK Partner and employment attorney Gary Phelan recently appeared on Melissa in the Morning to discuss the viral story surrounding the CEO and HR officer caught on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert, a story that’s sparked renewed debate around office relationships and workplace policy.
In the interview, Gary acknowledged that workplace relationships are not uncommon, with Melissa noting that roughly 60% of employees have experienced a romantic relationship at work at some point in their careers. Rather than prohibiting such relationships outright, Gary emphasized the importance of sensible, well-structured policies that address power dynamics and prioritize transparency.
“Blanket bans don’t work,” Gary said. “They often lead to secrecy, gossip, and distrust. Employers are better off adopting clear guidelines, especially when it comes to relationships that involve a supervisor and a subordinate.”
Gary pointed out that companies can manage these situations by requiring disclosure, implementing anti-retaliation protections, and even using relationship agreements to set expectations about behavior in and out of the workplace.
He also explained why this particular story captured so much public attention. “Social media is the new water cooler. Add in the fact that trust in business leaders has been declining, and there’s a kind of fascination when high-level executives get caught disregarding the rules they’re supposed to enforce,” he said.
Gary's commentary highlighted a broader point: while workplace romance isn’t going away, employers must find a balanced, thoughtful approach to ensure fairness, reduce risk, and foster a healthy work environment.