Personal relationships at work policy template

£9.90

Personal relationships at work policy template setting expectations and managing conflicts of interest.

Use this model personal relationships at work policy to set out rules on the management of personal relationships at work, and what expectations there are for employees.

Personal relationships at work policy template
2026 Ready
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 620 words · 2 pages
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/08/2026
Next review 01/02/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .txt · email

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Personal relationships at work policy

1   Overview

1.1   This policy sets out rules on the management of personal relationships at work, and what expectations there are for employees.

2   Scope

2.1   This policy is applicable to all employees of [company name].

3   General principles

3.1   The Company recognises that employees who work together may form personal friendships and, in some cases, close personal relationships. The Company does not, as a general rule, wish to interfere with such personal friendships and relationships. However, it must also ensure that employees continue to behave in an appropriate, professional and responsible manner at work and that they continue to fulfil their job duties both diligently and effectively. These rules are therefore aimed at striking a balance between your right to a private life and the Company's right to protect its business interests.

3.2   The following rules apply to employees embarking on close personal relationships at work, whether the relationship is with a fellow worker, client, customer, supplier or contractor:

  • you must not allow your relationship to influence your conduct at work. Intimate behaviour during normal working hours or on Company or client premises is prohibited. This includes holding hands, other close physical contact, discussions of

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What is a personal relationships at work policy?

Personal relationships at work policy template

Having individuals who are involved in relationships working alongside each can present legal and practical concerns for employers.

For example, the real or perceived risk of a conflict of interest, confidentiality issues and a risk of disruption, or worse, possible legal claims if the relationship were to break down.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Personal relationships at work policy template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Personal relationships at work policy template, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing conduct processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

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Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
The Personal relationships at work policy template is also included in these bundles:

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