Page 32 - 2019 - erbe employee handbook.draft national

6-6. Employee Discipline
Erbe has a wide range of tools at its disposal to manage effectively any situation that may arise in the workplace.
Erbe’s policy regarding disciplinary actions is to investigate all situations thoroughly and employ the best option available for dealing with the situation based on the facts and the impact of the conduct in question. This discipline system is not intended to be exclusively progressive in nature, and the company has the discretion to utilize any method of discipline under this policy, depending on the severity and circumstances of conduct. Erbe expects employee’s conduct to support company efforts to maintain a professional work environment.
6-7 Open Communication Policy
Erbe believes that maintaining direct communication with all employees, without interference from any outside party, is best for all concerned. Employees may freely communicate problems, opinions or suggestions openly with their management, human resources, and executive management.
6-8 Hiring Relatives
The employment of family members can cause conflicts of interest, and accordingly, Erbe has implemented this policy regarding hiring relatives of current employees. Erbe believes in hiring and promoting people based on their knowledge, skills, abilities, and potential. As such, we wish to reduce the potential conflicts of interest that can occur when family members work together.
Definition of Family Members
For the purpose of this policy, a family member is defined as spouse, domestic partner, parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, grandchildren, or cousins. In-laws (or domestic partner's family) are also considered family. Other non-family relationships can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Nepotism Policy
No family members shall:
 Work in the same department or share a manager.
 Have any reporting relationship between them.
 Oversee processes that will affect a family member. For instance, HR employees may not be a business partner, employee relations manager, or compensation supervisor over any department that the family member is in.
 Participate in any disciplinary or reward decision that directly affects an individual family member.
This policy shall be enforced when hiring, promoting, or transferring employees. When dealing with outside firms, either as vendors, clients, or service providers, these same guidelines shall apply.
Erbe understands that family relationships may change throughout employment. If a new relationship develops that could violate the nepotism policy (for example, a new romantic relationship, a family marriage that creates an aunt/uncle/niece/nephew relationship), report the change or potential change to Human Resources as soon as possible. Human Resources will work
32 | Employment Practices Confidential/Internal Use Only