Quote Quoting scrypppps
View Post
It is a major municipality in California and the rule is specifically set out in the civil service commission of that municipality with regard to employee relations at work. Other rules being violated would just be rules included department policy with regard to maintaining a healthy work environment. The easy answer is always to look elsewhere for work, however, employment isn't always the easiest thing to come by. In particular this position I have is very difficult to get, is a lifetime appointment with a pension, and very few openings elsewhere. With that said, I do have another job lined up that will hire me within two years as another person retires. However I thought it would be worth pursuing options, it confuses me that a work environment would be so hostile, have effect on so many employees, and its perfectly legal. Yet if that is the answer, then that is the answer.
Municipal nepotism laws can be a tangled web. It all depends on what the local muni code actually says on the subject. It may well be that the nephew is well qualified and was hired appropriately. In some cities/organizations I have worked in, the prohibition is usually that the relative cannot work in a department directly supervised by the employee. In others, NO relative can be hired in the city at all ... though there has been some litigation to this effect in CA over the past 3 decades limiting such a total ban. (I was once turned down for hire at a city police department because my uncle was the City Manager even though he did not exert any influence over the process with me and was not even a reference or mentions by me. Such absolute bans have since been mitigated I understand.)

As others have stated, if things are so bad that you are unhappy, perhaps it might be best to seek other employment while you cvan leave with a (hopefully) positive recommendation and reputation.