No kissing, holding hands or other “touching” at work in La Crosse

One city council member sees 
nepotism policy changes unnecessary

A nepotism policy in La Crosse city hall getting considered by a council committee this week doesn’t reinvent the wheel. 

The new one expands the definition of what constitutes a family member and there are other changes in that area. 

The biggest changes, however, appear to be in addressing intimate relationships that develop between workers and supervisors and other issues involving intimacy among co-workers. 

“Prohibited,” says the new policy. No open displays of affection, like kissing, hugging, hand holding or other “touching.”

One La Crosse city council member needs some more information before deciding whether to support changes to the nepotism policies.

“I guess I’m waiting to see why (it’s) outdated and where the new policy is being written from, and where is the need for it?” said Fram Formanek, who was a division chief in the city’s fire dept.

Formanek says limits on supervising – even extended family members – seems like it might be hard to implement.

“It gets to be a little bit confusing in that frame of mind,” Formanek said, “and I think it’s getting to a point where we’re being overbearing in a way.”

The city has a nepotism policy in place that already restricts supervision of family members.

While much of the proposed policies remain similar to those adopted by the city council 13 years ago, there is some broadening of the definition to members of the family.

“Where do you stop it?” Formanek asked. “Does it mean that if you’re really good friends with somebody, that you’re not supposed to give them an order either, because it’s going to affect something or whatever?”

A bigger change might be in regulating how intimate relationships are handled at work, including restrictions on kissing and holding hands.