Would you find this weird?

[Papermacheman]

If you started a new job and someone on your team (but slightly more senior to you) was married to one of the managers in the dept. Is this actually allowed?

It's weird that you find it weird. My previous workplace had several married couples, some even in the same team.

Oh that’s great so you have seen this in a workplace before…I hadn’t…hence my asking. It’s almost like we all have different lives and experiences 🙄

Well it might be against company policy in certain places but clearly not there.

I worked in a place where lots of people either met long term partners or had casual relationships with colleagues.

People are grown adults and there's only so much sanctioning ones workplace can do regarding where their employees consensually place their tongue or genitals.

Why would you think this was weird or possibly not allowed?

No, it's quite common where I work. Anyone in that position has to register a 'conflict of interest' and part of that process covers any avoidance action they need to take if there's overlap in their areas of responsibility.

Do you mean is it illegal? No.
Is it allowed? Depends on your specific company policy.

It’s allowed in my company, and noted in the conflicts register. They can’t directly line manage each other and if one has a role which responds into the other’s direct authority schedule then any approval also has to be ratified by another colleague with the same level of authority. It’s a bit sad for some of them at the Christmas party as we’re all seated with our immediate teams so they always have to sit on separate tables, but I’m sure they get over it.

As long as they uphold professional working standards it’s not going to be a problem. You can’t prevent people having personal relationships - in some poorly managed organisations it can be just as much of an issue where some colleagues are particularly friendly with others and risk showing bias in their management or how they work together.

It’s not weird.

Hmm I e of my daughters met her husband at work when they were at a similar level. Over time she became his direct boss. However she was promoted again and the issue was no longer.

Wasn't really a big deal though. Can't sack staff for marrying each other lol