Purpose and Objectives
This policy outlines the Company expectation that all employees will carry out their duties with integrity and avoid conflicts between their private interests, specifically personal relationships, and University Company responsibilities. This policy supports the Company Code of Conduct.
Scope/Coverage
This policy applies to all Company employees and people engaged in an unpaid capacity.
Policy Statement
Personal relationships should not interfere with, be seen to interfere with, or influence practices in the workplace. The Company expects all employees to avoid and minimize the likelihood of conflicts arising due to personal relationships.
Personal Relationships in the Workplace
Personal relationships could include:
- family relationships (including spouse, children, siblings, cousins, relations by marriage, parents or other close relatives)
- emotional relationships (including sexual relationships and friendships)
- financial relationships (including commercial relationships where pecuniary interest is present)
Personal relationships may involve employees, Contractors, Customers/Clients, students or members of the community in the Company environment. Such relationships should not interfere with, be seen to interfere with or influence workplace practices or decisions.
Personal relationships must not interfere with decisions or processes associated with the following:
- selection and promotion of employees
- confirmation of appointment
- performance review
- employees development opportunities
- authorization of payments
- assessment of students
- selection of students for admission.
Employees who are or become involved in a situation where a personal relationship may be a source of conflict should declare any such possible conflict of interest to the Senior Officer.
Normally, where an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest exists, the Senior Officer will require the employees concerned to withdraw from the situation(s) in which the employees is conflicted.
Where an employee withdraws from a situation in which they may have an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest, the employees’ supervisor or another employee (as appropriate) will act as a substitute.