I Work at a University. Unfortunately, I Have a Big Crush on a Student.

"Thanks for being so thoughtful about work crushes. They're so common but so complicated! In general, the most important consideration is whether there's a power imbalance. In your case, you describe the potential relationship as employee-employee, but from the university's perspective, your crush's status as a student is more important than his role as an employee. As a staffer with a potentially permanent position, you have more institutional power, and the student-employee has more institutional protection."

"He and I got along like a house on fire, and I quickly developed a massive work crush. He recently got rehired for the new semester, and now I see him every day. Would it be unethical to ask him out? He doesn't report to me, my job duties don't involve anything he might need from our department as a student, and as far as I know, there's no anti-fraternization policy in terms of employee-employee relationships."

A recent hire at a university describes being a young staffer who works alongside undergraduate and graduate students. A student hired as a temporary summer employee became the object of a strong workplace crush and was rehired for the new semester. The staffer asks whether asking the student out would be unethical, noting no direct supervisory relationship and no known employee-employee fraternization policy. The recommended primary consideration is whether a power imbalance exists, since the institution privileges student status over employee role. The staff position creates more institutional power while the student-employee has institutional protections. The advice is to consult the university human resources office to determine applicable rules.

Read at Slate Magazine