Hiring Relatives / Partners
Nepotism occurs when individuals are shown favoritism at work for having a close relationship with an employee. This means the following:
- Individuals within third degree by blood or marriage to the employee
- Individuals who have a similar relationship to those of a close relative or family member
- Relatives can include, but are not limited to, the following: parents and step-parents, siblings, grandparents, spouses, partners, children, adopted children, step-children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces.
We advise against hiring an individual who has a close relationship with another employee to avoid accusations of favoritism and blurring the lines of work and personal life environment. The appearance of nepotism can impact a workplace’s culture, creating complications at work with other employees.