PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. -
The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is enforcing a new policy that bans office romances.
The policy, called the "No Spouse and No Dating Rule," states employees are not allowed to date or marry one another.
Officials said they hope the new policy will help maintain a friendly, but professional work environment.
The new policy states if employees wish to date, one of the parties must resign from the department and if it is discovered two employees are dating they will either receive disciplinary action or be dismissed.
Nashville's News 2 spoke with Sheriff David Andrews over the phone regarding the changes.
According to Andrews, the issue needed to be addressed and that the county attorney gave him the okay for the policy change.
"Employers have the duty to protect their employees from sexual harassment," explained attorney Keith Dennen of Bone McAllester Norton.
Dennen told Nashville's News 2 with the newly enforced policy, there could be discrimination issues if there is a pattern of female employees quitting the department because of the changes.
Some employees said they plan to challenge the new policy.
