New guidance: Research involving employees, colleagues, and/or subordinates

January 17, 2025

We have added new guidance on research involving employees, colleagues, and/or subordinates. Conducting human subjects research where there may be an existing professional or status relationship between participants and members of a study team introduce unique ethical considerations. Examples include: recruiting co-workers; recruiting your subordinates; recruiting from or through your workplace.

Investigators can be approved to conduct human subjects research activities with participants with whom they have an existing professional or status relationship, provided additional measures are implemented to address ethical concerns. This guidance describes the expectations and responsibilities of PIs when they recruit from their colleagues and/or subordinates.

Visit our Guidance page for a copy of the new guidance.