Nepotism is the favoring of a family member when hiring. Nepotism is prohibited in organizations for obvious reasons. However, in non-profit organizations, it is especially frowned upon; but apparently not in the Gaylord Diocese. One example, which has not been answered when brought up by a parishioner, occurs in Cadillac. Bob Kellogg is the principal at St. Anne Catholic School. His daughter is a teacher at the school.
The Diocesan Employee Manual states the following:
“An Employee of the Parish, School or Diocesan Office may not be a close family member’s direct supervisor or participate in the processes of review and decision-making on matters concerning hiring, retention, promotion, salary, managing performance, termination or discipline of that close family member.
A close family member is an Employee’s spouse, son and daughter (including stepchild), son-in-law and daughter-in-law, parents (including stepparents), father-in-law and mother-in-law, brother and sister (including stepbrother and stepsister), brother-in-law and sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild.
Close family members working within the Parish, School or Diocesan Office must always guard against allowing their family relationship to affect their behavior and job performance in light of the morale issues that could arise.”
The concerned individual brought this to the attention of the Diocesan Chief of Staff, Julie Erhardt, via Email over a month ago and has yet to receive a response. We hope that this year may bring a change in the Diocese of Gaylord’s lack of communication with members of the Diocese when questions such as this arise.