Should one get fired for sex at the workplace?

[Marc Wentink]

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Oral_sex_paramedic:_I_was_comforting_woman&in_article_id=717808&in_page_id=34

I stand for my opinion that if it does not bother your work, and it is not public and no one would have noticed it normally then would it be that bad! For instance, I am doing, freely, not paid, to please my employer a little extra time because I want to finish something. Then I see a female colleague also doing something late at night she wanted to finish. We think we are alone, we have sex, and then the boss enters who forgot his keys. I think it would be unreasonable to get fired in such a situation! Also I have google-d and found that 20% of the Dutch claim that once in their life they had sex in the office. Now firing them all would be really overkill I think.

[Bear Bibeault]

Sorry, get a room.

[Marcel Wentink]

Bear Bibeault wrote:Sorry, get a room.

Pffff, basically yes. These things should not be allowed in the office 'normally' but getting fired is too severe. One can get caught in the passion of the moment. And then loosing your job, your income? Don't you think that is just too much? This guy in the ambulance did not really bother anyone with his action. I presume there was not another call of a cardiac arrest somewhere else in town while he got lucky. (or unlucky in this occacion)!

[Paul Clapham]

It's possible that the workplace in question had rules forbidding that sort of thing. I didn't follow the link to read the article, though, so I don't know if that possibility was discussed.

[Henry Wong]

Another way to look at it. These people do it for the excitement that they may get caught. If you don't fire them, then where would the excitement be?

Henry

[Vikas Kapoor]

Gimme a break.

I stand for my opinion that if it does not bother your work, and it is not public and no one would have noticed it normally then would it be that bad!

You're setting your own rules. But company has its own rule to which we are bound to obey.

These things should not be allowed in the office 'normally' but getting fired is too severe.

This depends on the person(s) who take the decisions.

One can get caught in the passion of the moment.

then have half day leave.

[paul wheaton]

My expectation of the english: "Hell yeah that was me! You have it on tape? Excellent! Can I get a copy to show my mates? You'll put it on the telly! Brilliant! My wife? If she looks at the tape, maybe she'll learn something!"

[Gregg Bolinger]

It may surprise you that it can actually be a Hazmat issue. You know, fluids and what not. Quite unsanitary. If I found out someone had sex where I work a) pics or it didn't happen and b) major clean up please.

[Marc Wentink]

Vishal Pandya wrote:You're setting your own rules. But company has its own rule to which we are bound to obey.

I doubt if many companies would have éxplicit rules on this. The hygiene aspect Gregg points out I can understand though.

Then about 'getting a room': What if the group is on a company outing during more days including a night stay and they have all their own (1 person) room in a hotel? And two of your colleagues are using one room, and not using the other so to speak? Well the boss says we should all be a 'good team and integrate', and then we're réally getting to be friends, and he is not happy again!

I know once the management told something like 'don't you two dare', when two got kinda too friendly in such a situation. Ah well they were a British company, and the 'couple' was Dutch and Swedish so there might be a cultural difference on this.

[Paul Sturrock]

Not sure I see how your comparison is relevant. The guy was fired for doing this in the office car park, not in the privacy of a hotel room.

[Joanne Neal]

paul wheaton wrote:My expectation of the english: "Hell yeah that was me! You have it on tape? Excellent! Can I get a copy to show my mates? You'll put it on the telly! Brilliant! My wife? If she looks at the tape, maybe she'll learn something!"

It's good to see you yanks have got over your need to stereotype other nationalities, due to your narrow world view meaning you have very little idea what goes on outside your own borders.

[paul wheaton]

Joanne Neal wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:My expectation of the english: "Hell yeah that was me! You have it on tape? Excellent! Can I get a copy to show my mates? You'll put it on the telly! Brilliant! My wife? If she looks at the tape, maybe she'll learn something!"

It's good to see you yanks have got over your need to stereotype other nationalities, due to your narrow world view meaning you have very little idea what goes on outside your own borders.

I'm not sure it's so much a "need to stereotype" as it is what we've been fed by our own media. I start by offering Monty Python and Benny Hill. And then I offer friends from england that sound just like the monty python guys.

Besides, isn't it england with "page 3"?

And then we have the approaches in the news when caught with something innapropriate: americans deny until there is proof and then they are utterly silent. Hugh Grant came right out and said "yes, that was me. so?"

I thought it showed pretty good depth of character on the part of the english.

[Darya Akbari]

It's a question of morale . People w/o morale are not worth it and of course I would fire those who cross that red line w/o mercy.

[Henry Wong]

Back to the topic...

Vishal Pandya wrote:Gimme a break.

I'm being serious. In many countries, sex on public property (or even private property where you can be seen by others) is illegal. Whether you regard the legality of the indecency laws, it is still against the law. In this case, it is an amulance employee having sex in the ambulance on hospital property. The hospital may be considered as negligent for not dealing with this swiftly -- ie. firing the employee.

Henry

[marc weber]

It's a matter of context.

For a prostitute, sex at the workplace is expected. But for a dominatrix, that would be gross misconduct.

[Marc Wentink]

paul wheaton wrote:Besides, isn't it england with "page 3"?

And then we have the approaches in the news when caught with something innapropriate: americans deny until there is proof and then they are utterly silent. Hugh Grant came right out and said "yes, that was me. so?"

I thought it showed pretty good depth of character on the part of the english.

My goodness, if you are saying that as an American you find English liberal on sex, that shocks me!! Actually most other Europeans find them prude and frustrated shówing that with that giggling fart and pee humour, if you then want a stereo type.

[stanislav bashkirtsev]

I think it's not critical, but if you want to have a sex at a workplace, make sure you won't be seen

[Marc Wentink]

Henry Wong wrote:I'm being serious. In many countries, sex on public property (or even private property where you can be seen by others) is illegal.

If you are showing yourself on purpose you are violating a rule. If you are caught by accident though, it's another matter.

[Ankit Garg]

Henry wrote:These people do it for the excitement that they may get caught.

that's true

Everyone should read something like this or this before attempting this ...

[fred rosenberger]

So where do you draw the line? "if it does not bother your work, and it is not public and no one would have noticed it normally..." Does that then include Gambling? Alcohol? Drugs?

[Pat Farrell]

In the office? I'd fire you. Sex with someone you met at the office, done after you have gotten a room, that's different. Its always a really bad idea, but its not directly a firing offense.

The big problem is if you fall in love with someone in the Office, things can be OK, but when you fall out of love, then you still have to work with them, and that can cause serious "issues"

Worse if you fall out of love/lust with one person in the office, and replace him/her with another from the office. Do that a few times and you'll be begging your boss to fire you.

[Gail Schlentz]

Darya Akbari wrote:It's a question of morale . People w/o morale are not worth it and of course I would fire those who cross that red line w/o mercy.

Morale? Sex at work would definitely increase morale!! Now morals - that's a different issue entirely...

[Darya Akbari]

Elaine Micheals wrote:Sex at work would definitely increase morale!!

Elaine, you seem to have a lot of fantasy, so why don't you elaborate more on how that would increase morale ?

[Marc Wentink]

fred rosenberger wrote:So where do you draw the line?

Yeah well that is álways the problem. Most do it at 18 others at 16 some countries even at 15. Ok strange comparison with age perhaps but there is always a grey area were the line must be. I would not pro definition fire someone because he or she got caught doing something sexual somewhere sometimes in office surroundings. (Assuming it will not become a daily after lunch habit.)

[Gail Schlentz]

Darya Akbari wrote:

Elaine Micheals wrote:Sex at work would definitely increase morale!!

Elaine, you seem to have a lot of fantasy, so why don't you elaborate more on how that would increase morale ?

Now, now... this is a family forum...

[Henry Wong]

Morale? Morality? Fairness? Harm? etc... All of these discussions are fine, but...

A company's main purpose is the business. No matter how you slice it -- breaking an indecency law will put the company at risk (law suits, reputation in the media, etc.). In terms of business, most companies won't think twice about this -- simply get rid of the risk and move on.

Henry

[Gail Schlentz]

Henry Wong wrote:
Morale? Morality? Fairness? Harm? etc... All of these discussions are fine, but...

A company's main purpose is the business. No matter how you slice it -- breaking an indecency law will put the company at risk (law suits, reputation in the media, etc.). In terms of business, most companies won't think twice about this -- simply get rid of the risk and move on.

Henry

Yep - it all comes down to the lawsuits. SAD but true.

[shan Iyer]

May be we are carried away by X rated videos/sites that depict office sex as being exciting.
If one cannot control his sexual urges at office , its time to go in for a therapy !

[Darya Akbari]

Elaine Micheals wrote:

Darya Akbari wrote:

Elaine Micheals wrote:Sex at work would definitely increase morale!!

Elaine, you seem to have a lot of fantasy, so why don't you elaborate more on how that would increase morale ?

Now, now... this is a family forum...

Then why don't you think the same way about your company? Isn't it like a family too . On the other hand you can send me a private message and let me know how that would increase everyone's morale

shan Iyer wrote:If one cannot control his sexual urges at office , its time to go in for a therapy !

(after I'd fired that one, that would be the next step I recommend)

[Arvind Mahendra]

From the article posted by original poster
"The panel also heard Mr Dale told investigators at the ambulance trust: "From the footage I assumed she was giving him a b*** job"
I can't believe they would choose to describe it using language normally reserved for ladies of the street and ruffians, in what I assume is a respected national daily, in favor of the more technical and appropriate fellatio. You Brits really ARE a kinky lot(a good thing in my book)

Anyhow, I personally think this is kinda sick. I didn't say if the lady was a paramedic but just imagine if she performed a fellatio(s) and then right after had to administer CPR on somebody - that's not hygienic at all. I guess the only thing surpassed in grotesqueness would be a pet owner who just french kissed his pooch and then passed on his swine flu's to someone he/she gave mouth to mouth to.


ps: This thread is so HOT ever since Elaine commented.