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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: March 7, 2020  Amends - GO 4.6.11 (January 30, 2009 ) Number: 4.6.11 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: September Reviewing Authority: HRD / Employee and Labor Relations Subjec t: Favoritism/Relationships This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to avoid actual or perceived favoritism for employees due to relationships with other employees who work within the same chain of command or on the same squad . 2. Policy Consistent with FS 112.3135 , it is the policy of the agency that one of its public officials may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion or advancement, in or to a position in the agency any individual who is a relative of the public officia l. An individual may not be appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in or to a position in the agency if such appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement has been advocated by a public official, serving in or exercising jurisdiction or control o ver the agency, who is a relative of the individual. This policy shall also include and apply to those persons who are in a relationship as defined below. 3. Definitions A. Favoritism – preference or partiality shown or patronage granted by persons in autho rity to relatives or others with whom they are involved in a relationship . B. Public Official - an employee of the agency in whom is vested the authority by law, rule, or regulation, or to whom the authority has been delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, o r advance individuals or to recommend individuals for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in the agency. C. Relationship – for purposes of this policy, a relationship includes those having a level of personal affe ction and familiarity not typically shared by co -workers in the work environment and involving (but not limited to) dating, physical intimacy, sexual activity, living together as a couple, or other similar behaviors. D. Relative - an individual who is relate d to the public official as father, mother, son, 4.6.11 , Page 2 of 2 daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father -in-law, mother -in-law, son -in-law, daughter -in-law, brother -in-law, sister -in- law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, step-daughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister. 4. Procedures A. An employee shall not directly supervise a relative or an employee with whom they are in a relationship. An employee who directly supervises a relative or an employee with whom they are in a relationship shall notify their supervisor immediately. B. An employee who indirectly supervises a relative or an employee with whom they are in a relationship will notify their supervisor immediately. 1. Lieutenants (and civilian equivalen ts) and below shall not indirectly supervise a relative or an employee with whom they are in a relationship within their chain of command. 2. All other instances of i ndirect supervision will be examined on a case by case basis to confirm fairness and operati onal efficiency. C. Employees who are relatives or in a relationship shall not work together on the same squad. D. Employees who work together on the same squad and who are related or in a relationship shall report the existence of the relationship to their su pervisor immediately. E. Employees who are relatives , or in a relationship, where both are members of a specialty team, shall report the existence of the relationship to the team commander. These instances will be examined on a case -by-case basis to confirm fairness in operational efficiency of the specialty team. F. Consequences of Violation Violations of FS 112.31 35 or this General Order will be subject to discipline in accordance with GO 5.1.3 G. Disclaimer The Sheriff maintains discretion to deviate from the provisions of this General Order.