Human Resources

1.05 Employment of Relatives

This policy defines and prohibits undo nepotism in the hiring, promoting, compensating, and supervision of University employees.

Origination date: 10/1/93
Revised: 1/1/2000
Applicability: All Employees

To avoid conflicts of interest and other issues related to nepotism, the University permits the employment of family members only in compliance with the following restrictions. No University official or employee may hire or employ; suggest the hiring or employment; direct or promote the hiring or employment; suggest, promote, or direct the promotion; or directly or indirectly supervise the work, evaluate the performance, or influence the compensation or other employment-related benefit for any family member within the third degree of relationship. No University employee may work for or report to any family member within the third degree of relationship.

The third degree of relationship includes:

• parents/parents-in-law
• son-in-law/daughter-in-law
• brother/sister
• grandparents/great grandparents
• spouse
• grandchildren/great grandchildren
• son/daughter
• aunt/uncle
• brother-in-law/sister-in-law
• niece/nephew

Members of the same family may be employed in the same department or other comparable administrative unit, except in the following situations:

• When one member of a family is responsible for making decisions in personnel matters involving the appointment, retention, or salary level of another member of the same family;
• When one member of a family is responsible for supervising, evaluating, or auditing the work of another member of the same family; or
• When other circumstances exist which place members of the same family in situations of actual or reasonably foreseeable conflict between the interests of the University and the family members.

In addition to applying to legally-recognized familial relationships, this policy will also be applied in situations where a conflict of interest could occur in relationships which are not legally recognized but where employees maintain a relationship that is in essence similar to the relationships enumerated above.