Intra-company romantic relationships are a minefield for employers. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the recent case of Gatter v. Ika-Works, No. 16-953, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174816 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 16, 2016). The case seems to merge employment law with a reality television show gone bad—involving the romantic relationship between a local sales representative and the son of the Ika-Works’ president, himself a part-owner of the company, with walks on a beach and a Mediterranean boating trip. The sexual harassment complaint seems to have been almost inevitable.
PART-OWNER ROMANCES SALES REP
Courtney Gatter was hired as a sale representative for Ika-Works in March 2014. Gatter worked remotely from her home in Pennsylvania and was supervised by the company’s managing director, Rafika Biljic, who worked from headquarters in North Carolina. Biljic was romantically involved with the company’s part-owner and president, Rene Stiegelmann. The remainder of Ika-Works, a chemical manufacturer, was owned by other members of the Stiegelmann family, including Rene’s son Marcel. Marcel, however, did not work for Ika-Works. As such, Gatter and Marcel did not know each other.
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