Human Resources Policies

HR59 Employment of Relatives

Policy Status: 

Active

Subject Matter Expert: 

Dovizia Long, 814-867-0041, dul10@psu.edu

Policy Steward: 

Vice President for Human Resources

POLICY'S INITIAL DATE: July 1, 1947 

THIS VERSION EFFECTIVE: July 1, 1997

Contents

PURPOSE:

To outline the circumstances under which relatives may be employed.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AS A MATTER OF CONCERN IN REGARD TO EMPLOYMENT:

The University seeks to provide equitable employment opportunities for all individuals, including those related to one another by blood or marriage. Such relationship affects the handling of certain personnel actions, including the placement of employees.

PRACTICE TO BE FOLLOWED IN PLACING EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RELATED:

Normally, placements shall not be made where one employee is in a position to supervise or to influence the related employee's rate of pay, or promotion of the employee, or the granting of tenure, or where the handling of confidential information could create awkward work situations. However, the University recognizes that there are, in some instances, circumstances such as specialized educational background and experience where employment by two members of the same family in a single work area is desirable even though a supervisory relationship results.

In such special situations, placement of relatives may be made in the same area even though one of the related employees is in a supervising capacity. This is provided, however, that satisfactory arrangements are outlined and approved in advance, either by the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University or by the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, the College of Medicine at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (as appropriate), which restrict (1) any supervising family member from making decisions such as those described in the forgoing paragraph that will directly affect a relative, and (2) access to confidential information as necessary to avoid awkward work situations. Disqualification arrangements shall be made when such occasions arise.

EMPLOYEES WHO BECOME RELATED THROUGH MARRIAGE:

The conditions outlined herein shall apply, also, if two faculty or staff members become related through marriage after they are employed.

 

Date Approved: 

July 1, 1997

Date Published: 

July 1, 1997

Effective Date: 

July 1, 1997