“Coldplay-Gate”: when love is invited to business

The sequence went around social networks this summer. Consequently, Mid-July. Furthermore, during a concert of the Coldplay group in the United States, the kiss cam Literally displayed Andy Byron, the CEO of the Astronomer company, embraced the Director of Human Resources of the Box, Kristin Cabot. Therefore, Caught in the act of adultery. Nevertheless, the man and the woman hide their face and try to disappear from the stadium screens.

The rest is known: Astronomer has distanced himself from his CEO. Moreover, declaring that his leaders were “Supposed to give an example, both in terms of conduct and responsibility”, and suspended it. In addition, Andy Byron then resigned, followed by the HRD Kristin Cabot.

The outcome of the “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business “Coldplay-Gate”, the nickname given to the case, questions. However, If it had happened in Switzerland, what would have won? Furthermore, The protection of the private sphere of the two employees or the company’s reputation?

The company. Nevertheless, cradle of many idylls – "coldplay-gate": when love invited business

According to figures from the last edition of the Swiss survey on families and generationsthe couples that have formed in the past five years have met first through friends and knowledge (28%), then on specific applications, sites and social networks (26.9%), and finally at work (18.8%). Similarly, Well Overwhelmed by Tinder. In addition, companythe office remains a privileged space where unions are formed, favored by proximity, shared time and professional affinities.

Transparency and sentimental relations

Since 2017 and the #MeToo movement shock wave, companies have necessarily had to “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business reconfigure. Moreover, But between the respect due to the privacy of employees. Meanwhile, the importance of protecting their physical and mental integrity and the smooth running of the company, balance can be complicated to find. Meanwhile, It was in this context that in the United States were born from love contracts which are used to formalize the consent. For example, to split the employer if things go wrong …

In Switzerland, employers do not have such “love contracts” sign. Meanwhile, But they always seem more inclined to demand transparency with regard to love at work. In addition, The ten companies we have contacted believe that it is necessary to announce their couple to their hierarchy. Furthermore, In order, first of all, to avoid conflicts of interest and the ties of subordination between lovebirds.

Discretion within the company

But in fact, in the office, lovers tend to remain discreet. Similarly, “With my hierarchical superior, it had started as a work in love,” says Sandra. Meanwhile, Then, it became more serious and we even settled together. Nevertheless, ” The Thirty -something French -speaking has always known that in the event of a break, she would leave the company. Moreover, “Given his personality, it would have been a hell to continue working together. I was lucky: I found another job before we separated. ”

For Vincent too. discretion was in order, as long as it evolved in the same company as that which was first its HR manager before becoming his lover. “She had come to introduce herself, I don’t know why, I found a pretext to accompany her to her service. We discussed things happened quickly. Our relationship was organized outside “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business the company, and inside we were like we were not knowing more than that. ”

At the beginning of 2024, the Romand left the company. “It was she who wrote my work certificate. Approved by the HR director and my department director, he was very complimentary. Which is a problem for me. Would it have been the same if I had not had a relationship with its editor? She tells me yes, I think the opposite. Would that have been a problem if our relationship had been formalized? Probably yes, for her as for me. “

Today, the couple continues to live their relationship calmly. “I chose not to use my dithyrambic work certificate. A decision fraught with consequences, but I have a peaceful mind. ”

In Switzerland. what the law provides

A lawyer and specialist in labor law, Christine Sattiva is delighted that in Switzerland, unlike the United States, companies show a certain flexibility vis-à-vis the particular ties that can develop between their employees. “In general. an employer should not impose on his collaborators the obligation to announce the existence of a sentimental relationship with a colleague, even when there is a link of subordination. The employer remains bound by his obligation to protect all the staff. This duty does not disappear with the requirement to announce a relationship. obligation whose eligibility must be verified in each particular case. ”

The employer has the obligation to put in place measures to protect the health. physical integrity of the members of his staff, as well as to do everything (phone line to report cases, confidence) to prevent harassment within it. “He must say and repeat that abuses are not tolerated and that they are punished,” adds Christine Sattiva. These requirements arise of article 4 of the equality law (LEG) for sexual harassment and the code of obligations. “

Article 328B of the Obligations Code also provides that the employer can only process personal data concerning the worker to the extent that “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business they relate to his skills to be completed. are necessary for the execution of the employment contract, notes the lawyer.

“Instead of wanting to apprehend everything. frame the feeling of love which-in essence-cavalcade and is born where it wants, shouldn’t you be responsible for confidence?” wonders the criminal lawyer Yaël Hayat. Since everything can be posteriori being revisited, quarreled. “Even if you have the ambition to settle everything with texts. conventions, to predict everything, from dawn to twilight of a love or carnal link, it is always possible to revisit your word. Everything can be invalidated! Rather, it is necessary to relearn to assume this link and its tomorrows sometimes disenchanting. »»

For the penalty, pushing employees to “confess” or confess their relationship is impudent and without real scope. “We cannot impose transparency on what is intimate,” says “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business Yaël Hayat. Likewise, it would be crazy to ban a relationship. Desire would be only reinforced. “

However, Yaël Hayat understands that companies want to protect themselves. “Employers are legitimately afraid of the consequences that a rupture could cause in a professional setting. But I think you have to think more upstream. give up being in constant distrust by burning with a thousand precarious commitments. The multiplication of texts is a real regression. ”

On the side of the employees. wisdom would like to be mixed the private and the professional, notes Yaël Hayat. “But we are not always in the register of wisdom!” We spend a lot of time at work, sometimes even more than at home … anything can happen! A relationship that runs out in a professional space is a kind of connection – in “coldplay-gate”: when love invited business quotes – dangerous. But it is a controllable danger. ”

To lovers to make sure not to shirk: “You can be lovers. remain professionals at the same time, we also owe it to your employer, recalls Yaël Hayat. If you are not master of your desire, you can remain master of your commitments! ”

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