Can managers be legally forbidden to date their subordinates?
It depends. An agency could have an existing policy which prohibits such behavior. If it doesn’t exist, management could negotiate with labor to implement such a policy. Also, remember that Public Officers Law ยง74 contains a code of ethics which binds all State officers and employees. Depending on the facts of given situation, the dating of a subordinate could violate that section of the law. Further, managers must be made aware, or reminded, of the potential problems associated with dating a subordinate such as “quid pro quo” accusations and third-party complaints.
