Court threat over Valentine cards

Office workers who send their colleagues Valentine's cards were warned today that their romantic gesture could lead them to court.

Lawyers caution that unwelcome love tokens could be treated as harassment - particularly if followed up by further advances.

Ray Silverstein, head of employment at lawyers Browne Jacobson, said: "There are examples of sexual advances leading to all sorts of legal problems and they often start on Valentine's Day. It is worst when the card is part of a pattern of obsessive behaviour."

A new definition of harassment coming into force in October will make the unsolicited romantic overture more likely to fall foul of employment law.

Mr Silverstein said it was up to employers to take control before situations spiralled into a court case.

Some companies already ban workplace romances because of the disruption they cause. Others have banned alcohol from office parties in a bid to stop workers making unwelcome advances to colleagues while under the influence.

Mr Silverstein also said there was a danger that a disproportionate reaction to a colleague's misjudged "same sex" card could fall foul of new discrimination laws.

" A person who receives a card from a homosexual colleague, then loses it and comes out with homophobic comments, could land their employers in very deep legal trouble."

Monday is the first Valentine's Day under the laws allowing gay and lesbian workers to claim discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Last month saw the first successful case brought under the ruling.

Rob Whitfield, 28, was nicknamed Sebastian by senior colleagues after a camp character in the BBC's Little Britain show. He was awarded ?35,000 compensation.