Members of the University community are prohibited from directly influencing the University employment or academic progress of a University member with whom he or she has a personal relationship. In addition, the policy may be invoked where there is no direct influence on employment or academics, but where the relationship has a negative impact on the educational or work environment.
A University member who is or will be in a position to engage in a prohibited activity must consult with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) to determine whether or not the relationship violates this policy and to develop an appropriate nepotism agreement. Likewise, a supervisor or manager who becomes aware of a potential nepotism violation should report it to the EOAA Office as should any employee who believes that their employment is negatively affected by a personal relationship of their own or another's.
Exclusions
Exceptions to this policy may be granted when eliminating the prohibited activities would unreasonably disadvantage one or both of the University members in the personal relationship. In the case of an exception to the policy, a written agreement must be developed to ensure that employment and academic decisions are made impartially. Likewise, even if the relationship does not have a direct influence on employment or academic progress, but it has a negative impact on the work environment, a written agreement may be necessary. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action shall review and approve all written agreements.
To implement the Board of Regents Policy: Nepotism and Personal Relationships. The University of Minnesota is committed to the highest standard of professional conduct and integrity and expects all members of the university community to adhere to them. Members of the University community must take care to ensure that personal relationships within the community do not result in conflicts of interest and situations that might impair objective judgment or create a hostile work environment.
There are no forms for this policy.
- Administrator/Supervisor
- Any administrator or supervisor with responsibility for management or supervision of a unit.
- Personal Relationship
- A marital or other committed relationship, significant familial relationship, including, relationships by blood, adoption, marriage, or domestic partnership: partner, parent, grandparent, child, sibling, first cousin, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, spouse, brother- or sister-in-law, father- or mother-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law, step-parent, or step-child; or a consensual sexual or romantic relationship, an intense personal friendship or a significant business relationship.
- Member of University Community
- Any University of Minnesota faculty member, student, or staff member, or other individual engaged in any University activity or program.
- Nepotism
- Participating in decisions which would involve a direct benefit or detriment to anyone with whom a personal relationship is shared.
- Prohibited Activities
- Directly influencing or exerting power over the employment or academic progress of a member of the University community, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, supervision, evaluation, determination of salary, grading, and advising.
- Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office
- Establish procedures for this policy. Advise and educate departments and individuals on resolutions involving personal relationships and develop nepotism policy where necessary. Store documentation when requested.
- Member of University Community
- Inform their supervisor of any workplace personal relationship involvement.
- Administrator/Supervisor
- Consult with each individual in the relationship, either jointly or separately. Contact EOAA. Protect the employment or academic interests of the subordinate. Document consultation regarding personal relationships. Keep all documentation secure and separate from any official file.
What can I do if I work with two co-workers who are involved in a romantic or familial relationship and I feel they are deriving certain employment advantages from the relationship?
Consult with someone from the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office and/or your human resources representative. You may also report any potential violation of the Nepotism Policy through UReport or the University's confidential hotline.
What is meant by a "power disparity"?
A power disparity usually exists when an persons position or status allows the
individual to influence the U employment or academic progress of another member
of the U community. Some examples include:
- faculty/student
- supervisor/subordinate
- reviewer/applicant
How do I prepare a Nepotism Agreement?
After you have determined that the personal relationship would violate the policy you can develop a policy using the template that is attached to the appendices below and review it with someone in the EOAA Office.
- Amended:
- July 2008 - Statement, Exclusions, Definitions, Responsibilities and Procedure clarified and updated. Added new appendix: Template for Nepotism Agreement.
- Amended:
- June 2006 - Title of Policy changed from "Managing Consensual Relationships in the Workplace" to "Managing Nepotism and Personal Relationships" and the procedure title "Responding to Consensual Relationships" changed to: "Responding to Nepotism and Personal Relationships".
- Amended:
- June 2002 - Title of Policy changed from "Managing Personal Relationships in the Workplace" to "Managing Nepotism and Consensual Relationships" and the procedure title "Responding to Personal Relationships" changed to: "Responding to Nepotism and Consensual Relationships". This change was made to make this policy and procedure easier to find.
- Amended:
- May 1999 - Added FAQ section.
- Effective:
- March 1999
The Regents policy on Nepotism and Consensual Relations was passed on December 11, 1998, modifying the previous policy on Nepotism. This policy establishes the first procedures.
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To obtain a copy of a historical policy,
e-mail the U Policy Librarian at policy@umn.edu or call 612-624-4372.
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