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Hi,
This is a very old practice being followed in some companies. The legal validity is doubtful. In any case, it is unjustified to ask both employees to leave. I know companies used to advise one employee to resign but not both. This will definitely demotivate existing employees as there are chances of a few more marriages inside. It is desirable to have husbands and wives working in the same company in today's context. You should, in fact, motivate!!! (On the lighter side).
Siva
From India, Chennai
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This is a very old practice being followed in some companies. The legal validity is doubtful. In any case, it is unjustified to ask both employees to leave. I know companies used to advise one employee to resign but not both. This will definitely demotivate existing employees as there are chances of a few more marriages inside. It is desirable to have husbands and wives working in the same company in today's context. You should, in fact, motivate!!! (On the lighter side).
Siva
From India, Chennai
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Dear Rahul,
Yes, in my last company, I faced the same problem. I had transferred one employee to another department. Both are working in the same group but not in the same company or department. She is working as a receptionist.
Thanks,
Rahul
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Yes, in my last company, I faced the same problem. I had transferred one employee to another department. Both are working in the same group but not in the same company or department. She is working as a receptionist.
Thanks,
Rahul
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Hi Ravi,
I have gone through the question you posed. In my view and experience, I believe a married couple should not work in the same office or department. This is because many issues can arise when both partners work together. One significant issue is that working late hours becomes challenging; if one wants to leave, the other has to follow suit.
Productivity is also impacted. For example, if the husband falls ill, the wife may stay to take care of him, affecting work efficiency. Additionally, there are many other potential issues to consider. While there is no legal prohibition against spouses working together, most companies do not encourage it.
Regarding the decision of who should leave, it ultimately depends on the company's policies. They may choose to ask both individuals to leave or explore the possibility of transferring them to different departments or shifts.
Thanks,
Nitesh
From India, Bhubaneswar
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I have gone through the question you posed. In my view and experience, I believe a married couple should not work in the same office or department. This is because many issues can arise when both partners work together. One significant issue is that working late hours becomes challenging; if one wants to leave, the other has to follow suit.
Productivity is also impacted. For example, if the husband falls ill, the wife may stay to take care of him, affecting work efficiency. Additionally, there are many other potential issues to consider. While there is no legal prohibition against spouses working together, most companies do not encourage it.
Regarding the decision of who should leave, it ultimately depends on the company's policies. They may choose to ask both individuals to leave or explore the possibility of transferring them to different departments or shifts.
Thanks,
Nitesh
From India, Bhubaneswar
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Hi,
We faced the same issue but we let it be. We did not remove either of the two as we believed that:
1) It would be demotivating to the employees.
2) Amoral.
3) Setting a poor example: as we, as organizations, repeatedly emphasize that personal life is different from professional life.
4) Illegal - Dismissal of employees for marriage has no legal validity in India. They can drag you to court for it. Reiterate to them that productivity cannot fall and that professional life is different from personal life. Usually, they listen and behave accordingly as they have a new relationship and would feel responsible for it. Finally, support them for the decision as it is quite a big one and wish them the best.
Remember: Marriage has legal and social protection and by today's standards is not uncommon in the workplace. No organization has the right to intervene unless you have a genius lawyer who inserted a conditional clause during the time of their joining.
Thanks,
Madhu
From India, Madras
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We faced the same issue but we let it be. We did not remove either of the two as we believed that:
1) It would be demotivating to the employees.
2) Amoral.
3) Setting a poor example: as we, as organizations, repeatedly emphasize that personal life is different from professional life.
4) Illegal - Dismissal of employees for marriage has no legal validity in India. They can drag you to court for it. Reiterate to them that productivity cannot fall and that professional life is different from personal life. Usually, they listen and behave accordingly as they have a new relationship and would feel responsible for it. Finally, support them for the decision as it is quite a big one and wish them the best.
Remember: Marriage has legal and social protection and by today's standards is not uncommon in the workplace. No organization has the right to intervene unless you have a genius lawyer who inserted a conditional clause during the time of their joining.
Thanks,
Madhu
From India, Madras
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Hi,
It's not mandatory to remove both employees. It depends on the company policies. Some companies have the policy that a husband and wife should not work in the same organization. In such a case, either of the persons has to resign.
Regards,
Deva
From India, Madras
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It's not mandatory to remove both employees. It depends on the company policies. Some companies have the policy that a husband and wife should not work in the same organization. In such a case, either of the persons has to resign.
Regards,
Deva
From India, Madras
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Dear Ravi,
I don't understand why should the management ask even any one of them to resign. I have seen in several organizations where both husband and wife work. In all the cases, they married only after joining the organization, and after the marriage, they continued with the organization for several years. All the above organizations ensured that both of them don't work in one department or report to each other. This should not be an issue, but after all, it depends on the policy of the organization.
My view is they should continue to be there in the organization as they were before marriage. If they are in the same department, then either of them can be shifted to another department.
Regards,
Byomjeet Mishra
From India, Delhi
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I don't understand why should the management ask even any one of them to resign. I have seen in several organizations where both husband and wife work. In all the cases, they married only after joining the organization, and after the marriage, they continued with the organization for several years. All the above organizations ensured that both of them don't work in one department or report to each other. This should not be an issue, but after all, it depends on the policy of the organization.
My view is they should continue to be there in the organization as they were before marriage. If they are in the same department, then either of them can be shifted to another department.
Regards,
Byomjeet Mishra
From India, Delhi
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Hi Ravi,
I faced the same problem in my office. It involved a receptionist and an electrical guy, but as they were already in different departments, we did not have their meetings during working hours. However, it is certain that when one of them gets sick or has to attend a social function, both departments suffer.
The positive aspect is that both of them are still with us and they themselves now understand that they need to be extra careful. So, it is okay to keep them as long as they are willing to cooperate.
Thanks,
Rahul Sethi
From India, Delhi
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I faced the same problem in my office. It involved a receptionist and an electrical guy, but as they were already in different departments, we did not have their meetings during working hours. However, it is certain that when one of them gets sick or has to attend a social function, both departments suffer.
The positive aspect is that both of them are still with us and they themselves now understand that they need to be extra careful. So, it is okay to keep them as long as they are willing to cooperate.
Thanks,
Rahul Sethi
From India, Delhi
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Me and my husband both work in the same company, in different verticals but both in HR. Our company has many instances where both partners are working. We try to accommodate the careers of both within the company so that they stay longer with the organization.
In today's scenario, it's difficult to find people, and there can't be a more flimsy reason than this one as quoted. I would suggest:
1) Try to put them in different divisions.
2) Let them report to different bosses.
3) Any other solution but asking them to resign.
People are mature enough; if it doesn't work for them, they will leave on their own. There is nothing more demotivating than asking a loyal employee to leave on such grounds.
From India
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In today's scenario, it's difficult to find people, and there can't be a more flimsy reason than this one as quoted. I would suggest:
1) Try to put them in different divisions.
2) Let them report to different bosses.
3) Any other solution but asking them to resign.
People are mature enough; if it doesn't work for them, they will leave on their own. There is nothing more demotivating than asking a loyal employee to leave on such grounds.
From India
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Hi Ravi,
Many industries are facing these types of problems. However, in this case, you have to handle it very carefully because removing may cause demotivation to other employees. Your management has already decided to remove both, but I think you should analyze what type of problems you are facing because of husband and wife relations. Both are your old employees. You can sit with them, discuss, and advise to resign one of them. It may work for you. Removing both may lead to injustice and demotivate others as well.
Thanks,
Krishna
From India, Delhi
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Many industries are facing these types of problems. However, in this case, you have to handle it very carefully because removing may cause demotivation to other employees. Your management has already decided to remove both, but I think you should analyze what type of problems you are facing because of husband and wife relations. Both are your old employees. You can sit with them, discuss, and advise to resign one of them. It may work for you. Removing both may lead to injustice and demotivate others as well.
Thanks,
Krishna
From India, Delhi
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