Family Owned Business and working with Family Members...

[C.A.R.]

Start off by saying I'm not happy in my job - but it pays the bills, is easy and stable.

Around 2 years ago our department (estimating & sales) which consisted of 2 staff - me and my boss - were gifted another member of staff. The workload wasn't there to fulfill another employees time but this particular member of staff holds a special place on the payroll.

He is the MD's son.

Fresh out of school and thrust straight into 'work' to learn the ropes. Our time not compensated for teaching him what we know and we are constantly undermined by his attitude - he is ultimately going to take the reigns of the company so doesn't really need to put in any effort.

Now our salary is not affected by our performance, that is to say that we don't earn commission on sales. This is good because we help one another out and it's a joint effort to keep the factory busy with work.

The problems have really started to come about in the last few weeks. The level of enquiries is dying off, so we are short of things to do. This made the management look to see who is doing what and when it transpired that the 'son' was completing enquiries that me and the sales director weren't aware of we started to panic. The lack of effort the son puts into work means the quotations are sub-standard, and when work is quiet we need to be distributing high-quality work with a view to securing as much business as possible.

Ultimately I feel like I'm being replaced. I sit beneath the sales director, my experience in the industry is 8+ years, his is 30+. The new(ish) recruit has virtually no experience of working.

The friction builds up because -
The son is allowed to come and go as he pleases (arrives late, leaves early)
Takes extended lunch-breaks (up to 2 hours)
Doesn't come into work if his father is on holiday (wtf?!)
Doesn't chase up clients for work
Refuses to use the telephone

If things get really bad (for instance) and work doesn't pick up, where does this put me? I've been with the company for 4+ years and the 'son' has been here just over 2 (although it would be considerably less than this if you calculated days worked).

It's not quite constructive dismissal as I'm not feeling pressured into leaving (yet). But am I right in thinking that if redundancies had to be made and I could prove that my workload was exceptionally larger and more beneficial to the company that I should not be made redundant before him?

For the record, we have the same job description (which is another bug-bear, given the differing levels of experience / knowledge).

Any advice much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Disgruntled employee...

[elanfan]

You know deep down the answer. This is one you cannot possibly win. Use your experience and start looking elsewhere pronto.

[Wacky Racer]

elanfan said:

You know deep down the answer. This is one you cannot possibly win. Use your experience and start looking elsewhere pronto.

This.

This "son" will probably eventually run the company and be your boss.

(Although I appreciate it is easier said than done to just up sticks and leave, so I suggest you bide your time, keep your head down, and look around to see what else is on offer locally)

Good luck.

[rog007]

Theory would say move now: In the United States, a familiar aphorism—“Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”—describes the propensity of family-owned enterprises to fail by the time the founder’s grandchildren have taken charge.

https://hbr.org/2012/01/avoid-the-traps-that-can-d...

Good luck!

[T5SOR]

There is nothing I hate more in business than being given a family member of the owners to work with. In my experience they usually have no interest in actually working and probably earn more than you are on.

It was a long road, but I finally got the MD to make him redundant.......

[Mr Pointy]

Does the owner realise the problems his son is causing?

The problem you have is that your immediate boss, the Sales Director, is not doing his job by controlling your colleague. If the situation is as you describe it then the SD should have disciplined him. However, this isn't going to happen, given that he is the owner's son.

You must realise you won't win this one. Start looking for another job & don't rely on redundancy procedures to either be fair or provide you with significant compensation.

[Sir Fergie]

T5SOR said:

There is nothing I hate more in business than being given a family member of the owners to work with. In my experience they usually have no interest in actually working and probably earn more than you are on.

It was a long road, but I finally got the MD to make him redundant.......

fk me he must have been useless to get made redundant from his own family business.

That's quite an achievement

My experience of working with family members was largely fine.

I did have an element of "they not having to put quite as much effort in" - but for the most part they got on with it.

Thankfully - because I had an annoying NON family supervisor to deal with which was annoying enough

[rambo19]

I worked for my dad when I 1st left school.

The sunday night before I started, he sat me down and gave me a STERN talking to.
The main thing I remember is;
"you represent me, do not embarrass me or show me up".

[C.A.R.]

Mr Pointy said:

Does the owner realise the problems his son is causing?

The problem you have is that your immediate boss, the Sales Director, is not doing his job by controlling your colleague. If the situation is as you describe it then the SD should have disciplined him. However, this isn't going to happen, given that he is the owner's son.

You must realise you won't win this one. Start looking for another job & don't rely on redundancy procedures to either be fair or provide you with significant compensation.

I think you highlight a good point, Mr Pointy.

That is that the MD believes his son to be doing quite well - it was only a couple of months ago I had to point out that 'no'; he does not do all of the new tender quotations! What I didn't point out is that in fact he is lucky to do 1 quotation a day (when busy, me and the Sales Director can take care of 4-6 a day).

I think there is this underlying fear of pointing out our frustrations because this will upset the MD. He MUST know that his son isn't pulling his weight, but it's getting harder and harder to pull the son up on his various mistakes because someone came up with the genius idea of integrating the office into one big open-plan situation.

Thanks for all the honest replies, I think you have said what I was concerned you were going to say, that is that I really could do with looking elsewhere in the near future.

[kev b]

How about using a bit of psychology, stealthily introduce your Sales Director to the idea that it is his position at risk, not yours as SD is the next rung on the ladder for Daddies Boy.

With luck, he will broach the subject with the boss or find himself another job, moving you out of the firing line whilst you seek out a better employer.

I fear whatever ensues you will be better off elsewhere as blood is thicker than water.

[C.A.R.]

Something came to a head today with regards to this and an unrelated matter.

My second child is due in June and we have our 20 week scan scheduled for next Friday.

I previously OK'd this with one of the Directors (not the MD) and established that ample notice had been given to book the day off (2 weeks). However, it turns out I have used my holiday allowance for this year (reset in April).

We get 20 days holiday per year - but 6 of these are pre-allocated by the company over Christmas.

The days leave is booked, but the big question will be whether or not I get paid.

The reason this is related is that the MD's son who is causing all the friction has just got back from a skiiing trip that nobody (other than his dad) knew about previously.

It's the attitude which stinks - taking paid holiday leave which he is not "entitled" to take but expected to do the same job that we are, it's basically taking liberties.

Whilst the lady in charge of holidays and payroll is happy to turn a blind eye she is also incredibly honest (a good thing) and I think she will feel she has to let the MD know.

I learned a new word which would have made my thread title a lot shorter anyway - Nepotism. Blatant, obvious and totally-legal, too. Great!