Anti-Nepotism Policy

West Boylston– In a move aimed at professionalizing and depoliticizing the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Guy Glodis today announced a new anti-nepotism policy for administration officials.  Any family relatives of the Sheriff, Special Sheriff, 1st Assistant Deputy Superintendents and all Assistant Deputy Superintendents will be strictly prohibited from working at the jail.  “As we’ve seen in the past, politics can erode this institution from the inside out, and a large part of that is nepotism,” Sheriff Glodis stated.  “Today the old style of who-you-know politics at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department comes to an end.” Current law precludes the Sheriff from hiring direct relatives, or any supervisors from assisting family members with anything that includes a vested financial interest, particularly salary, overtime and sick pay.  Sheriff Glodis is extending the hiring ban to every member of his administration, preventing any family relationships between managers and staff. “Every person in this administration is here because of their skill, education, experience and vision.  This new policy guarantees that past mistakes will never be repeated,” Sheriff Glodis continued. Stating that current employees should not be punished for previous policies, the Sheriff said this change will not be retroactive but will only affect future hires. In 1983, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that public employees are prohibited from acting on hiring and promotions of relatives.  Since then, 26 public officials have been sanctioned by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission for nepotism.   Nearly half of all state legislatures specifically prohibit nepotism.  Also, at least 40 states currently have some form of restriction on nepotism for public employees.