I am writing an article of the effects of romance in the workplace and
I am looking for a theory in psychology that may possible back up one
of my arguements. I am looking for a theory that supports my view that
people have trouble changing the dynamics of their initial
relationship. Here is an example: A boss and an employee begin a
romance at work. Even after they leave the workplace (and continue the
relationship) each person still views the other person as an
employer/employee because those are the original circumstances under
which they met.

I don't know if I explained this well enough or not (the plague of a
college professor) so please ask for clarification if you are
confused.

All I am looking for in the answer is the name of the theory, I can do
the rest of the research on my own (all though I am sure that I will
get more than that as is so often shown by the thoroughness of GA
Researchers).

Thanks!!!!!

It won't be any help for you, but you should appreciate G-A sponsors'
link software that has a one track, socially correct response to your
question:
"Sexual Harassment at Work", "Sexual Harassment" (twice), "Harassment
in Workplace".
I don't know the term for the theory either, but I agree with your premise.

HI again,
It occurred to me that I know just such a couple, and have been trying
various expressions:  role consistency, role retention, relationship
consistency, and so on.  Not very productive.    Oh, the expressions
exist, but meaning different things.
Remember the book:  Games People Play ?

Similar situation is grown children's reverting to teenager role with
parents when they have mostly been separated since by boarding school,
college, job.

Relationship stagnation, frozen roles, ...? 

Maybe that will give you some ideas.  I hope so.
Myoarin

Thanks for the heads up myoarin!!!!! Your info defintely set me in the
right direction.

I do love the GA Sponsors link!!!!!!

My pleasure after a first flippant comment.
Let the world know if you find the expression  - or invent it.  My
sisters and I suffered from "retental teen syndrome"  (which I just
added to the language.  :)

I'm right there with you. I suffer from horrible maturation allergies :)

You don't have to admit.   The world knows that most professors are
just trying overcome that by side-stepping into a parental, adult role
by lording it over humble students.  :-D
But seriously, it seems unlikely that you have defined an
interpersonal situation that the psychologists haven't put a name to.
Surprising that none of the brilliant Researchers has just dropped the
correct term in a comment, at least.
Maybe it will still happen ...
Cheers!

Since I havent heard anything yet I will be busy preparing my Nobel
acceptance speech for the remainder of the week :)

For what it's worth, here's my personal experience with your
theory.(in case you are interested in some real life examples)

I met my boyfriend at University, he was a tutor and I was a student.
We didn't get together till about 8 months after I was no longer in
his class and had left that University (we just happend to bump into
each other accidentally and I went from there as we discovered that
each of us had liked the other while I was a student in his class but
neither of us had done anything about it). We've now been together for
over 2 years. At first it was a bit wierd,in that I felt a bit
awestruck by him and didn't feel that we were equals (but this was
just my own feeling, he wasn't acting like he was still a tutor and
had authority over me) But then again the fact that he's 5 years older
than me and I hadn't had any previous serious relationships could have
also contributed to my feeling of being intimidated by him. Anyway,
all of that lasted maybe 2 months at most and now we are like any
other normal couple, in fact since my personality is quite loud and
dominating I am probably the one who bosses HIM around more (heheh).
When I think back now to our previous tutor/student relationship it's
hard to associate, in my mind, the person I know as my boyfriend and
the guy who was my tutor as the same person. Not because he now acts a
lot different than he did or anything...but just because obviously the
relationship I had/have with those 2 people is so different.

My twist on your theory would be; it probably depends on how close the
association is between the pre-existing professional(or
other)relationship and the romantic relationship. For example the
"role consistency" (or whatever you want to call it) would be stronger
if the romantic relationship started as part of the other relationship
and both relationships continue or continued in tandem (so for example
you started going out while working together and continue doing both
for a period of time) in our case, my boyfriend and I were no longer
tutor and student when we started going out and a period of time had
passed between the end of that and the beginning of the romantic
relationship so the theory would be weaker.

Also it might depend on how the other person acts, my boyfriend never
tried to assert authority or make me feel intimidated because of the
previous power dynamic so our relationship is now equal- it depends on
the boundaries that the people in the relationship set (like if you
are going out with your boss and they continue to try and asserts
control in the romantic relationship from the start you are more
likely to slip into that pattern)

i have experience with this work/romance situation.  i met my current
boyfriend at work over 2yrs ago.  we started a fling the same day we
met (at work) and assumed it wouldnt go anywhere.  after the fling
went on for 2wks, him and i started to realize we felt close to one
another and we ended up in a relationship.  up until 2 months ago when
i found another job, he had been one of my managers at work.  during
our 2 years together, i have never felt inferior to him in any way. 
in fact, he complains that sometimes he feels inferior to me because i
have a higher gpa in school.  the fact that he was my manager was
convient at times, but we never took advantage of it, and as far as i
can tell, it hasnt had any serious impact on our relationship.

dont know if this will help your research, but i figured i'd share my
story with you.

-polina