[componentheading]Yes, I Do[/componentheading]

No visual displays of affection, etc. It’s all outlined in our employee handbook. — Janice A. Niebauer; Ralph Miller Jewelers & Gallery, Erie, PA

We did not have such a policy until one of our bench jewelers ran off with a saleswoman. Ouch! Hard to lose two at once. — Barry Tricker; Stowe Gems, Stowe, VT

No one dates anyone in the office. If someone wants to date, one leaves the company. — Aron E. Frank; Amco Jewelry, Houston, TX

We just have a no-fraternizing policy. Pretty general. We have an all-woman staff, so it is not a problem right now. — Judy Cantrell; DEY Gem Jewelry, Harrison, AR

We don’t allow it within the same department or affiliated departments. — Laurie Langdon-Gerber; Elisa Ilana Jewelry, Omaha, NE

These are hard to enforce. We prefer no relationships and have a no-nepotism policy.  — John Joseph; S. Joseph and Sons, Des Moines, IA

Hire all married staff! I had a situation 20 years ago at my second store where my manager fell in love with a sales associate, and it about put me out of business! —Tom Duma; Thom Duma Fine Jewelers, Warren, OH

 
[componentheading]No, I Don’t[/componentheading]

We will not hire employees who are related. The exceptions are members of the family that own the store. — Roger Butler; Butler Truax, Selma, AL

Bottom line: They need to adhere to proper conduct, policies and procedures, regardless of personal relationships. — Jeff Fox; Barnes Jewelry, Amarillo, TX

Largely these issues are covered with our existing policies, such as no PDA. — Mark & Monika Clodius; Clodius & Co., Rockford, IL

We trust our staff to conduct themselves in a professional manner at work. What they do on their own time they are also responsible for personally. — Alex Weil; Martin’s Jewelry, Manhattan Beach, CA

We’ve found it difficult to put into words. We just have an unwritten policy against it. We’ve only had one problem in 30 years. We brought both parties together, discussed the situation and one of the parties left our employment. — Pat Gilmore; Dunbar Jewelers, Yakima, WA

Don’t have a rule carved in stone, but we have told employees the practice would not be tolerated. — Marc & Connie Wolenhaupt; Wolenhaupt’s Jewelry, Centralia, IL

We have a sexual-harassment policy but nothing against consensual relationships. — Dorothy Vodicka; The Gem Collection, Tallahassee, FL

As our business is growing, we actually need to put a policy in place. It is now an unwritten policy. We need to put it down on paper and review it with our staff. A policy will protect everyone. — Jared Nadler; Levy’s Fine Jewelry, Birmingham, AL

Who are we to tell people who to love?! — Jennifer Hornik Johnson; Jae’s Jewelers, Coral Gables, FL

[span class=note]This story is from the July 2011 edition of INSTORE[/span]