2.06 Placement of Immediate Family Members

Policy No. 2.06

Policy: Berklee strives to ensure that situations of perceived favoritism or conflicts of interest are not created in the work and learning environments. In order to achieve this goal, the placement of individuals into any type of position that would result in immediate family members being in a managerial or supervisory relationship within the same work unit is not permitted. In addition, placement of immediate family members in the same work unit, regardless of the reporting relationship, is strongly discouraged. Final determinations related to the applicability of this policy rests with Human Resources.

As used within this policy, “immediate family members” shall include the following:

  • Spouses or domestic partners
  • Children, stepchildren, or legal wards
  • Siblings or stepsiblings
  • Parents, stepparents, or legal guardians
  • Grandchildren or step-grandchildren
  • Grandparents or step-grandparents
  • Parents-in-law
  • Siblings-in-law
  • Daughters- and sons-in-law
  • Nieces and nephews
  • Aunts and uncles 


This policy extends to any staffing decisions related to hiring, promotion, or transfer, regardless of the duration of the placement, the funding source, and/or whether the placement is a paid or unpaid assignment. In addition to the criteria outlined above, prior to being placed in the institution, all immediate family members being considered for employment must follow all established application procedures, must meet minimum required levels of skills and experience, and must comply with all necessary pre-employment requirements.  

The manager is responsible for ensuring policy compliance with faculty and staff:

  • That are newly hired
  • After an employment change (transfer from another department)
  • With an existing staff member who enters into one of the above relationships (deemed as “immediate family member”)

Berklee reserves the right to amend, suspend, or cancel this policy at any time, with or without notice. In the event that a conflict exists between this policy and the terms and conditions of the Berklee faculty union contract agreement, the union contract agreement will supersede this policy.


June 2025