What's love got to do with it? Quite a lot, actually. To answer Tina Turner's proverbial question, this section of the research paper deals with romance and how it affects one's behavior in the workplace. First, the term "romantic relationship" suggests that we will be examining relationships between two people in which some element of sexuality or physical intimacy exists. In so doing, we note the difference between perceived romantic relationships (i.e., relationships that non-participants believe have a sexual component) and actual romantic relationships (i.e., relationships between participants that actually have a sexual component). The one may lead to the other, but does not necessarily imply the other. Coworkers who are romantically involved may successfully keep that aspect of their relationship secret from others, and/or others may suspect that two people are romantically involved when in fact they are not.
             Second, the term "romantic relationship" suggests that the relationship is a welcome one for both partners. If the relationship is welcomed by one partner but not the other, it is likely to constitute sexual harassment rather than what we would consider a romantic relationship because one party may be forcing his or her will on the other. Some observers believe that virtually all romantic relationships in organizational settings constitute sexual harassment because they arise more for reasons of men's domination and control of women than for reasons of mutual sexual interest (e.g., MacKinnon, 1979; Tancred-Sheriff, 1989). We as a group do not subscribe to this view. However, we acknowledge that a romantic relationship may become sexual harassment when one partner no longer welcomes the sexual component of the relationship.
             Third, our reference to romantic relationships "in organizational settings" suggests that we will be examining romantic relationships between two members of the same organization or ...