Which of the following actions can be considered a violation of Equal Opportunity policies?

Making employment decisions based on personal relationships rather than merit is a clear violation of Equal Opportunity policies. These policies are designed to ensure fair treatment and to promote equality within the workplace, especially with respect to hiring, promotions, and other employment-related actions.

When decisions are influenced by personal relationships, it undermines the principles of meritocracy that are fundamental to an equitable work environment. Such actions can create an atmosphere of favoritism and bias, leading to resentment among those who are unfairly overlooked for opportunities due to non-merit-based factors. This not only affects morale but can also hinder the overall effectiveness of the unit by placing individuals in roles where their capabilities and qualifications do not align with the requirements. Thus, maintaining decisions based purely on merit is essential to uphold the integrity of Equal Opportunity standards.