Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved by:
All Florida Tech Employees, Volunteers, and Contingent Workers	May 1, 2016	July 2022	Dr. Marco Carvalho Executive Vice President & Provost

Policy Owner: Office of Human Resources

Policy Purpose

To establish Florida Tech policy for employment of relatives at the university.  

Policy Scope

All employees, volunteers, and contingent workers

Policy Statement

Individuals may not work directly for or supervise a relative at Florida Tech, and may not occupy a position in the same line of authority in which an employee could initiate or participate in decisions involving a direct benefit to their relative. Such decisions include but are not limited to hiring, retention, transfer, promotion, wages and leave requests.  Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Vice President of Human Resources.

Procedures/Guidelines

Faculty

Faculty members who are married or domestic partners of another faculty member may be employed within the same department as long as there is not a supervisory relationship. Any relative other than a spouse or domestic partner may not be employed within the same department, nor in a different department if a supervisory relationship or conflict of interest would result.

Non-faculty

Relatives of staff may not be employed within the same department, nor in a different department if a supervisory relationship or an actual or perceived conflict of interest would result.

Changes

If a new relationship or a change in position/line of authority results in a conflict with this policy, the conflict must be reported to both individuals’ supervisors and one of the affected individuals must seek a transfer or a change in the reporting relationship. Such changes must be approved by the Vice President of Human Resources. If a decision is not made by the affected employees within 14 days of reporting, reassignment will be made at the discretion of the department director and the Vice President of Human Resources.

Definitions

Relative: For purposes of this policy relative is defined as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild of the employee. Relatives also include those within these categories who are referred to as adopted, step-, foster, grand-, half-, in-law, spouse of, or great-.

Supervisor: A staff or faculty member who oversees, directs, or evaluates the work of others.

Responsibilities

The hiring supervisor is responsible for ensuring policy compliance for new and internal hires.

Department directors/heads are responsible for monitoring changes in employee reporting relationships after initial hire to ensure compliance with this policy.

Employees are responsible for immediately reporting any relevant changes to their supervisor.

Enforcement

Violation of this policy may lead to disciplinary or other corrective actions, up to and including dismissal.