A Case of Office Infidelity? Here Are Four Steps Companies Can Take

Office romance or allegations of infidelity involving employees at work are not a new phenomenon. They often pose a serious challenge for management because they can create an uncomfortable work environment and undermine professionalism. Given the significant impact on team productivity, every company should ideally have measured policies. UNIQLO Indonesia HR Manager, Arief Wibawa Cipta, said the first step management should take when receiving reports of infidelity is not to place the decision solely in the hands of one party. Handling should be carried out by a joint team to keep evaluations objective, via a committee comprising several key people within the company. ‘We have already shielded against such things by forming a committee. The committee usually does not consist of HR alone, but we also have experts in legal, and then we also involve management,’ Arief said during a discussion session at UNIQLO HQ, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. The formation of the committee is only the initial step. Before taking further action, the company needs to ensure that the complaint is truly valid and not simply unfounded rumours or gossip. Corporate Affairs Director UNIQLO Indonesia, Irma Yunita, revealed that infidelity issues often begin from mere rumours. Therefore, a company should avoid making decisions based solely on assumptions by conducting in-depth investigations. Irma added that the process takes time because sometimes the company must validate CCTV footage, or examine office laptop facilities to search for clear facts. After strong evidence has been gathered, the committee’s next task is to review the matter from a professional perspective. The company must carefully assess the extent to which the scandal disrupts the operation of the organisation. Once the evidence is validly gathered, the committee needs to look at the essence of the issue professionally. The focus should always be returned to the impact of the ethical breach on operational matters. ‘Everything related to the violation should be linked to its impact. To what extent does it affect the work?’ Arief said.