Posted on: Monday, June 2, 2003

Rules vary when coworkers find romance at job

By Deidra M. Lemons
Montgomery, Ala., Advertiser

Michael and Victoria Saunders are inseparable. The Montgomery, Ala., couple met at work, began dating and fell in love.

"We do everything together," said Michael Saunders, who works in the engineering and design department at Industrial Specialty Company. "We go to work together, eat together and go to Wal-Mart together." Victoria Saunders works in the company's quality control department.

But when the couple were dating, they kept it low key — although they worked practically side-by-side.

The Saunderses, who celebrated their first anniversary in May, continue to work at Industrial Specialty, becoming a part of a growing trend of family members working for the same company.

Although the Saunderses waited until they were ready to tie the knot to reveal their workplace romance, company owner Ken Kranzusch was elated when he found out the two were planning to wed.

Kranzusch likes to brag that his business is family owned and operated: Members of seven families, including three married couples, are among the 60 employees at the metal and anodizing factory.

Kranzusch said he has enjoyed having family members work together in the 30 years he has operated the business.

"There is a higher standard and quality level expected and achieved when you work with family," said Kranzusch, whose brother, daughter and son-in-law work for him. "If all of them worked in the same department, it might cause some scheduling and vacation issues, but they all are considerate and wouldn't put us in a bind like that."

"Many of the family teams work near each other but not next to one another," said office manager Julie Dapprich, whose husband, Darrell, is company vice president. "We joke that with the kids and all their activities, lunchtime in the break room is the only time we can sit quietly together."

Archie Boyd said the time that he spends with his two sons, Jeffrey and Stephen Boyd, at work is easy and invaluable.

"Both the boys have their own families and this is the only time that we have to really talk," Archie Boyd said.

There is no written policy at Industrial Specialty, but other companies have definite rules about families working together.

At Max Federal Credit Union in Montgomery, Ala., there is a written policy on relatives and married employees working together and an unwritten policy on dating.

"In our company, it is not prohibited but if one of the members becomes a supervisor, the other will either be moved to another location or they could be asked to resign," said Sandra Stenger, human relations officer for Max Federal Credit Union. "Two relatives cannot be under the same supervisor, work in the same department or in related departments."

Stenger said work productivity and employee morale can be affected when couples work together.

"Especially in a banking institution, it just doesn't make good business sense," Stenger said. "What if one is reprimanded? It could affect morale for both of them."

Meanwhile, Industrial Specialty employees Lori Ngoc Pham and Kim DuHo, married for 12 years, said they have worked side-by-side for nine years without any problems.

"It is not hard because we have always worked together, the entire 12-year marriage," DuHo said. "I love to work next to him and we do it well together, helping one another."