Er, ok: American Apparel bans relationships at work
Bosses at US-based clothing retailer American Apparel are clearly trying to show they're turning over a new leaf. The brand has updated its code of ethics – including a clause specifically banning relationships at work.
According to the new code, "no management-level employee may make sexual advances, welcome or unwelcome, toward any subordinate".
Now, most managers worth their salt should be instinctively aware of that sort of thing – but the company did recently fire Dov Charney, its founder, who famously racked up several sexual assault allegations.
His unusual management style also involved wandering around in front of employees stark naked, and even, on one occasion, conducting an interview with a journalist while having a sex act performed on him.
So at least employees are now aware that's banned. The code of ethics goes on to state:
No employee who has a personal relationship or romantic relationship with another employee may be in a position with any perceived or actual influence over the other's terms of employment.
The new code also has sections detailing "Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets" and "Conflicts of Interest", just in case employees aren't aware they shouldn't steal or generally behave in a dastardly fashion, either.