An amended policy will require Ocean City’s employees to disclose certain relationships in writing, a move officials say will address any conflict of interest or appearance of favoritism.
The policy change, approved in a 6-0 vote during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, states that employees who are related or who are intimate partners must disclose the nature of their relationship by submitting a form to the city’s human resources department.
“Our current employee handbook does already contain language for reporting relationships,” Human Resources Director Katie Callan told the council this week. “The purpose of this policy is to further clarify expectations in order to prevent conflicts of interest, to eliminate the possibility of appearances of favoritism, and just in general to create a work environment that is fair and equitable and professional, of course.”
Callan said the policy will go beyond what currently exists and would require written disclosure in two situations – one involving two employees working in the same department, and another involving any employee occupying a supervisory position, regardless of department.
She said those employees will also be asked to complete an attestation form acknowledging that any intimate relationship is voluntary and consensual.
“The HR department – should this policy being approved – would communicate the policy, we’d distribute it, collect the disclosure and attestation forms, and they will be made part of an employee’s confidential personnel file,” she added.