Nepotism Policy

Policy Background

A recent management review conducted by the OSU Internal Audit Office made the College of Engineering aware that nepotism issues had often gone undetected until problems arose. Without notification from employees that possible nepotism issues exist, we are in some cases unable to determine if immediate family members are directly responsible for the decision to hire; or for the supervision, direction, evaluation, or salary recommendation of a family member. Although the University has a nepotism policy, the college decided it was important to initiate a preventative measure and created a nepotism form which would allow employees to disclose potential nepotism issues.

Policy

According to the Office of Human Resources Policy 1.25, Nepotism, “Members of the same immediate family, as well as domestic partnerships, whose qualifications rank each of them first for the positions under consideration may be employed (full-time or a part-time), so long as neither family member is immediately responsible for the decision to hire, or the supervision, direction, evaluation, or salary recommendation of the other. In such instances, all final decisions will be referred to the Office of Academic Affairs for faculty, and to the Office of Human Resources, Organization and Human Resource Consulting, for staff.” The College of Engineering requires that an Engineering Nepotism Checklist be on file for every employee in the college.

Procedures

The Engineering Nepotism Checklist is required for all employees (including student and temporary employees) in the College of Engineering. All new employees must complete this form as part of the hiring process. Continuing employees who do not currently have a form on file, must complete this form no later than December 31, 2007.

After the employee completes and signs the form, it is forwarded to department HR Office for verification and completion. The form is then be assessed and signed by the Department Chairperson, or equivalent supervisory official (i.e. Dean for Department Chairs or Associate Deans, Provost for Deans, etc.). Final original forms are maintained in the Department in cases where no nepotism exists. Copies of forms where nepotism may or does exist are forwarded to the College for further review, with a written management plan, as necessary. In cases where the College has determined that nepotism may or does exist, the form and appropriate attachments are forwarded to OHR for staff, OAA for faculty.