For many, Valentine’s Day is just another “Hallmark holiday”—an excuse to shower the ones we love with chocolates, flowers, and mushy cards. But not everyone looks forward to February 14—and it’s not just bitter singles. Employers, too, have plenty of reasons to be concerned about the most romantic day of the year.
Kim Seten, a partner in the Kansas City office of management-side employment firm Constangy, Brooks & Smith, advises employers to discourage employees from celebrating the holiday in the workplace. “Valentine’s Day is perceived as a holiday for romance,” she says, “and even the most well-meaning manager or boss who wants to pass out cards or candy can give an employee the perception that it’s of a romantic nature.”
