The practice of granting or withholding employment to a spouse, child, or parent of the employer or of an employee is called what?

• A. Quotas
• B. Affirmative Action
• C. Recruitment based on merit
• D. Nepotism

Answer: (D)

This describes nepotism—the practice of granting or withholding employment to relatives of the employer or of current staff, regardless of their qualifications. It centers on family relationships influencing hiring decisions, which can create conflicts of interest and concerns about fairness in the workplace.

Quotas refer to fixed numerical targets for hiring certain groups. Affirmative Action is a broader policy aimed at promoting opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups, not specifically about relatives. Recruitment based on merit means selecting employees based on qualifications and abilities, not family ties. Thus, nepotism is the term that best fits this description.