Human Resources

Sub-topic

Code of Conduct

Relationships personal/professional

I have been requested to sit in the recruitment board for a job, and one of the applicants is a person with whom I have developed a close personal relationship? What should I do?

You should recuse yourself. Any attempt to influence the career development of someone who is related to you, or with whom you have a close personal relationship, could lead to a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest and should be avoided. This also applies to performance evaluations of personnel who are related to you or with whom you have close relationships.

I own a few shares in a large publicly traded company and am involved in a procurement process in which this company is making a bid. Do I need to withdraw from the process?

You may not be part of a situation which leads to a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest. In your case, if your investment in a large company is so small that it will not be affected by the outcome of the procurement process, you should be able to continue to participate in it. If you are in doubt regarding these matters, discuss them with your hierarchy or verify with the Finance and Procurement Department or Internal Audit.

My brother is employed in a training company that would like to give a presentation about its services to CERN. May I give him the name of the responsible person at CERN he should contact?

Yes, as long as you do nothing to influence CERN’s decision to retain the services of your brother’s company. You should inform the respective CERN officer of your relationship and clarify that your input should not be seen as interference in CERN’s decision-making process

My nephew recently graduated from university. He applied for a position as assistant to a colleague in another Department. I found out that he was short-listed. May I contact my colleague to support my nephew’s application?

No. You should not do anything that could influence, or could be perceived as influencing, the decision-making process, because you have a conflict of interest.

Religious practices

Does CERN provide special menus and spaces to prepare food, aligned with requirements of religious practice?

CERN restaurants offer a wide variety of menus, catering for a range of dietary needs. Supplemented by the possibility to heat food individually at various locations, this provides options for people of all backgrounds, religious or otherwise.

Is there a silent/prayer room at CERN?

CERN does not provide a designated prayer space, as managing such a space falls outside the purpose and mission of the Organization.

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