If being part of a love triangle is confusing, imagine what happens at work. Marcelo Courrege and Carol Barcellos, Globo reporters, began dating during Carnival and were accused of starting their relationship as lovers last year. The case became a scandal and any mortal would be afraid of losing their job afterward. But can the broadcaster punish the couple?
The situation might even cause unease behind the scenes, but the company would be unlikely to avoid an employment lawsuit if it fires employees for just cause and uses the controversy as justification. If Globo decides to terminate the journalist's contract, Globo must pay all severance payments.
“The safest way for companies in such cases without internal rules and with reputational damage would be termination without a valid reason, i.e. payment of all the employee’s rights,” says Rubens Gama, labor lawyer and partner at AK Direito Kommunikation und Sport.
The expert interviewed by the report also says that the company has other ways to prevent interpersonal relationships from interfering with work and causing inconvenience. “The employer can create rules that prevent their professionals from working in the same industry once they have relationships. They have to be general rules that apply to everyone and are very transparent,” he explains.
What does Globo's Code of Ethics say?
Globo's Code of Ethics and Conduct is the core of Grupo Globo's compliance program, involving a dedicated team of professionals and an Ethics and Conduct Committee. The document sets out a number of guidelines, such as intolerance towards abuse of power and sexual harassment.
One of the sections prohibits the hiring of relatives within the same department if one of them holds a managerial position and is aimed at preventing favoritism and conflicts of interest. This is the part that comes closest to the Carol Barcellos and Marcelo Courrege case, but it would not be a valid argument for dismissal.
For example, if they got married, neither could take on a leadership position in the same area, so one would not be subordinate to the other. “Except with the express permission of the President of Grupo Globo, members may not be relatives of their direct or indirect subordinates in their management level,” the code excerpt reads.
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Renata Heilborn also worked at Globo
After the case exploded last week, Renata Heilborn, Courrege's exwife, took to social media to say that she had found out “in the worst possible way” that her exhusband was having an affair with a friend of hers, the godmother of, had her wedding a clear reference to Carol. The post confirmed the scandal that began to unfold in September last year, two months after the resignation of Renata, who also worked at Globo.
“When I was fragile after resigning from TV Globo, I discovered that he was with a friend. One of those confidants that I spent time with every day. After finding out on a Friday morning, I went home and he moved into her house to pursue her passion,” the journalist continued.
However, the outburst remained unanswered, and the reason could be precisely the channel's code of ethics and conduct. Since Courrege and Carol still work at Globo, they have an obligation to avoid controversy online. “Grupo Globo expects that the presence of its members on social networks is guided by respect for others and courtesy, and respects applicable laws,” the document says.
According to the labor law specialist, this is a rule that can certainly be applied by the company, provided that caution is exercised and there is no interference with the contractor's private life.
“The employer can also require discretion from its employees in social networks, but these rules require great care and limit this intervention. It can’t be arbitrary,” he advises. “Without specific rules, any dismissal would only be for the convenience of the broadcaster and would mean the payment of all severance payments,” concludes Gama.