Code of Professional Conduct: relations between staff members

2.1 This Code covers all personal relationships, including:

• business, commercial, financial relationships
• close friendships/social relationships
• family relationships
• current and former intimate relationships (including marital, sexual, romantic, emotional whether heterosexual or same sex relationships).

2.2 This Code covers the staff of the University of Exeter.

2.3 This Code covers all areas where such relationships raise questions about conflict of interest, trust and/or confidentiality which may occur at the outset, during or on the termination of a relationship. Such conflicts may arise in relation to the following areas.

• management and supervision of staff including career progression and staff development
• deployment of financial and other resource
• access to confidential information
• contractual matters including employment, career opportunities, placements, complaints and discipline
• assignment of work and facilities to students.

3.1 Within the University, members of staff will have a variety of mutually rewarding relationships which will not have a detrimental effect upon colleagues or the good running of the organisation. Whilst most social and personal relationships are entirely beneficial in that they promote good working and academic relationships, there are occasions when personal relationships between staff may lead to actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Members of staff are required to declare an interest where a personal relationship gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that a conflict of interest might exist, or that the integrity of the academic, administrative or institutional processes of the University could be threatened, in circumstances such as those detailed under para 2.3. Such an apprehension will almost certainly arise where one party to a relationship has a direct line management responsibility for another. It will not necessarily arise from the mere fact of co-membership of a particular Faculty or Department/Division.

3.2 It is the responsibility of the member of staff to make a declaration of interest to their Head of Department/Division or to their Senior HR Partner. There will not be a requirement to give details of the involvement.

4.1 When in 3.2 the University is made aware of a relationship covered by this code of conduct, it will consider the appropriate action in a manner that protects the integrity of all parties. The staff members involved will be consulted and are expected to comply with reasonable action. The University will ensure that these matters are dealt with in confidence and as sensitively as possible.

4.2 Appropriate action could include:

• ensuring that appropriate action is taken to minimise the potential effect of the relationship on other staff or students;
• ensuring that the involvement of a member of staff in taking or influencing decisions affecting the other person’s salary, terms and conditions of employment, role, workload, promotion, training and development, career development and staff appraisal etc is carried out in such a way as to protect the integrity of all parties and processes.

To protect the interests of all parties, a record of the declaration and action taken (if any) may be made.

4.3 Failure on the part of a member of staff to declare a conflict of interest which results in the academic, administrative or institutional processes being brought into question, may result in disciplinary action being taken.

4.4 Staff who are uncertain about what action to take should seek guidance, in confidence, from their Senior HR Partner.

4.5 Where staff or students believe themselves to have been personally adversely affected by a misuse of power/authority or conflict of interest, they should raise it with their line manager, PVC or Senior HR Partner, or through the procedures available (e.g. Student Complaints Procedure, Policy on Dignity at Work and Study, or Grievance Procedure)). Where the University is made aware of a relationship by another person or other means, appropriate action will be taken to protect the integrity of all parties and procedures, and deal with the matter as sensitively as possible.

4.6 Any of the parties involved who do not consider that satisfactory arrangements have been implemented have recourse to the Grievance Procedure or Student Complaints Procedure, as appropriate.