Happy Valentine’s Day from the lawyers
If the sight of Valentine’s Day cards, heart-shaped candy, and overpriced stuffed animals give cause for an eye roll, you’re not alone. Today more than ever you need lawyers to maintain equilibrium. In matters of the heart, it’s litigation, not love, that’s in the air. So Happy Valentine’s Day from the lawyers. (and you’re welcome)
Free Divorce Contest
The 2020 holiday season is projected to generate $20.7 billion dollars according to the National Retail Federation. That’s a lot, so it comes as no surprise that lawyers want a piece of the pie, and they have been creative this year.
Some law firms came up with the idea of a ‘free divorce’ contest on Valentine’s Day. If you’re not feeling the love, a Middle Tennessee attorney is giving away free divorce representation to one lucky client for Valentine’s Day, and that’s for the third year! But can we blame him? Just in New York City, it is estimated that nearly 200 people will file for divorce on February 14th. Now, that’s modern romanticism.
The War against Love
Despite its relative popularity, not everyone is so fond of this celebration. In fact, some countries have gone so far as to ban Valentine’s Day and sanction anyone caught celebrating it. In Pakistan, the High Court ruled Valentine’s Day illegal, noting that the celebration was not compatible with Muslim tradition. This is not the only country to object Valentine’s Day on religious grounds: Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia have also banned Valentine’s Day. Behind religion, some lawmakers in Russia have also proposed to abandon the celebration of Valentine’s Day in schools, something not so new since some US schools had already banned the celebration.
Crazy Facts About Valentine’s Day
Lawyers love facts, that’s not news and they’re nothing worse than arguing with a lawyer. So, here’s a few facts about Valentine’s Day to break out during dinner.
1. In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.
2. In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
3. Physicians of the 1800s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.
4. 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
5. 200 000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.
6. The Catholic Church struck St. Valentine’s Day from its official calendar in 1969.
7. Americans will spend more than $700 million on Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets
Love Is in the Office Air
Some of your co-workers might feel empowered on Valentine’s Day. Despite the pressures of modern work, employees appear to be finding love in the workplace. Three in four people, aged 25 to 34, say they’ve experienced dating a co-worker, and 54% of young workers see no issue with having seek in the work place. That’s enough to make your HR sweaty.
On the other hand, this kind of situation can create some hostile work environment. In 2017, 26,978 claims of workplace harassment were filed.  Anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies should draw a clear line between asking a co-worker out on a date, and persisting with such actions despite the recipient’s failure to reciprocate. Love may be blind, but an employer cannot turn a blind eye to office romance.
Thank you for reading & Happy Valentine’s Day from the lawyers!
