Colleagues,
If you plan to attend the Academy of Management meeting in Vancouver, I'd like to call your attention to the following caucus on Monday, August 11 at 8-9:30a at the Vancouver Convention Center, Room 217:
Flirting with Danger: Social Sexual Behavior in the Workplace (Session#853)
In both lay and scholarly conversation, social sexual behavior (behavior that has a sexual component) has been primarily labeled as 'too hot to handle' because of it's potential to harm individuals and organizations. However, social-sexual behaviors that are neither harassing nor demeaning, such as consensual flirting, are relatively commonplace in a variety of work settings and can have both positive and negative effects on individuals. While research has devoted significant attention to sexual harassment and workplace romance, what we know about consensual, casual, or strategic social sexual behavior at work is quite limited. For example, there remain questions about the tangible and intangible effects of social sexual behavior on actors, targets and observers such as clients; who may either enjoy or dislike being flirted with in a place of business. Importantly, we also know very little about how power and status differentials inherent in hierarchical organizations affect workplace social sexual behavior. Moreover, given potential negative effects of social sexual behavior between peers (at the same, and especially, at hierarchical levels), what (if anything) should managers and organizations do to manage workplace sexuality without stifling the freedom, privacy, and autonomy of their employees?
The purpose of the caucus is to allow scholars and practitioners an opportunity to discuss dynamics and outcomes of social sexual behavior at work, identify tools and techniques for appropriate scientific investigation on the issues, as well as to examine current human resource trends in managing workplace flirtation and romance. We invite experts in social sexual behavior at work, as well as those who wish to learn, to join this conversation and generate theory-based empirical research programs that can help foster evidence-based management of flirting at work. If you have any questions, please contact the caucus organizers: Lex Smith (lex.smith@okstate.edu) and Brian Webster (brian.d.webster@okstate.edu).
See you in Vancouver!
Alexis N. Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor of Management
Spears School of Business
Oklahoma State University
322 Business Building
Stillwater, OK 74074
405.744.7669