Is sex illegal at work?
 

Police are investigating a complaint that John Prescott broke the law by having sex with his secretary in his Whitehall office. So, what are the rules about sex at work?

Things just keep getting worse for deputy prime minister John Prescott.

Police are now investigating a complaint that he broke the law by having sex with his secretary in his Whitehall office.

Tracey Temple, his former assistant private secretary and diary manager, alleged that she had had sex with Mr Prescott in his ministerial office while he was supposed to be working.

He has admitted the affair but said many of her recollections were untrue.

Abuse

One in 10 workers in the UK claim they have had sex in the office, according to research by RPCushing Recruitment.

There is no law saying that people cannot have sex at work but it calls into question issues of appropriate behaviour.

In Mr Prescott's case, he is being accused of committing the offence of misconduct in a public office by having sex with his secretary in his Whitehall office.

If someone who holds public office abuses their position it is seen as a breach of the public's trust. As a civil servant Ms Temple could also be prosecuted for the same thing.


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Earlier this year a police officer who had sex with a woman he'd been called to help was given 200 hours of community service and lost his job after admitting misconduct in a public office.

And last year two policemen were sent to prison for 15 months and forced to quit their jobs after being found guilty of the same charge. They admitted having sex with a woman while on duty.

The offence applies to all public servants including councillors and government ministers.

For those employed by private companies, employers cannot ban relationships that start at work but they do have a right to expect some standards of behaviour on company time and on the premises, says the TUC.

Human rights

Sex at work could well be viewed as gross misconduct and a reason to dismiss a person immediately.

A fifth of UK companies have a formal or informal policy on what is expected of employees and their managers should love blossom and a further 20% are considering setting one up, according to law firm Fox Williams.

Some are considering following their US counterparts in setting up a "love contract", which can either ban office romances or require an employee to reveal a romantic relationship to management.

But firms could be in breach of the Human Rights Act if they try to persuade staff to sign an agreement that restricted workplace relationships, according to the TUC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4984182.stm

I don't think that it should be illegal to have sex anywhere!! What do you think?

Dunno why it's an offence. Sounds weird stuff - but only seems to apply to govt ministers and public employees?

Suppose the flip side is they are not being paid by the public to fuck - but do a job.

Overall, Prescott's conduct is mild in comparison to the other perverts in the House of Commons and Lords, - but "scandals" are popular. :pimp

ASSSRAPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Is Sykk hitting on you again?

who's deputy prime minister John Prescott?

Work is illegal at sex I think.

i don't think its illegal, atleast not in usa

It is a conspirasy thats all.

I think it depends on the laws of the state or country.

In most states public nudity is forbidden. However, I guess it would then come down to property rights. Since technically a work place is private property, it would be up to the courts to define "public" on private property??

:2 cents:

fuck the work, have the sex :)

if you work in a brothel...youd be hard presed to get away with no sex at work

I dont think it should be illegal but i definitely think it should be discouraged. Employee relationships can sometimes take the focus off of what you are there for which is work. It can also cause unneeded tension in the office. Now actual sex in the office, if you can get away with it then more power to you but i as an employer would not encourage it. If the only place that you can have sex is in the office then you need to break up with your spouse so you dont have to sneak around. It's usually the cheaters who are fucking in the office. It's definitely not something you should be terminated behind.