Board of Regents Policy Nepotism in Employment

For purposes of this policy, “relative” means a connection between persons by blood, marriage, adoption, or co-habitation. Relative includes, but is not limited to, spouses, parents, children, adopted children, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepparents, stepsiblings, stepchildren, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and grandparents.

It is well recognized that employment of relatives in the same area of an organization may produce conflicts of interest and problems concerning disparate treatment, which can damage the integrity of the System and its universities. Under the Code of Ethics, Connecticut General Statutes, Section 1-84(c), a state employee may not use his or her position for the financial gain of himself or herself, his or her spouse, child, child’s spouse, parent, brother or sister. But the Code of Ethics only addresses limited circumstances where conflicts of interest may occur. Other relationships may also give rise to a claim of disparate treatment.

In addition, conferring of benefits and privileges based on relationship, rather than on merit, and the appearance that benefits and privileges may have been so conferred, can harm the functioning of the institution(s). In these circumstances, all parties leave themselves open to charges of inequitable consideration in decisions concerning work assignments, transfer opportunities, time off privileges, training and development opportunities, performance evaluations, salary increases, promotions, demotions, and disciplinary actions.

It is the policy of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) that relatives of persons currently employed by CSCU may be hired only if they will not be working under the supervision of a relative, either directly or indirectly, or supervising a relative.

If two existing employees of CSCU work together in a supervisory relationship, and become related, as herein defined, a case-by-case review shall be made. In some circumstances, one of the employees may be transferred or otherwise reassigned. Existing employees should not ordinarily be transferred or reassigned into a supervisory relationship with a relative. Exceptions will only be made when there is a management plan approved by the Chancellor or the President that is designated to eliminate the conflict of interest or the opportunity for favoritism.

In addition, the objective of the search procedures for new hires is to ensure that the best candidate for the position is the one selected. It is the policy of the CSCU that any employee serving on a search committee must excuse themselves from consideration of the qualifications of a relative if one applies for the position and must further disclose to the search committee that said candidate is a relative. Further, no CSCU employee shall vote, make recommendations or in any way attempt to participate in or influence decisions about any personnel matter which may affect the selection, appointment, evaluation, retention, tenure, compensation, promotion, termination, or other employment status or interest of a relative.