Do you have to be so damn OBVIOUS about your nepotism?

The BBQ Pit
1

I’m in an interesting position right now- the company I’m working for doesn’t currently have any funding. Or rather, the investors have decided to not pay us, 'cause they want to see if the project will start paying for itself- the employees will just have to “make do”. Any money we get is going towards supporting the company, itself. As a result, I’ve been working long hours for the past several months without much of a paycheck at all- they’ve given me enough to pay my mortgage, but that’s about it, and I have to ASK for that. I like the job, though, and all of us here share the dream that the company will, in fact, eventually make us some money. I’ve been riding my bike to work, 'cause my truck’s brakes are screwed, and I can’t afford to fix 'em. I don’t have my prescriptions. I can’t afford to go to the doctor for the bronchitis I’ve recently developed. My bills are stacking up… well, you get the idea. It sucks, but the job prospects aren’t really out there right now.

Well, we just got a new employee. He’s just a kid, really- he’s never worked in this field before, and is currently on summer vacation from college. He doesn’t really do anything, as we can’t find anything FOR him to do. How’d he get the job?

His uncle, you see, is the chief investor.

Come on, can you get more blatant about the nepotism? Hell, the word, itself, comes from the Latin for “nephew!”

Oh, and did I mention that HE is getting paid? He’s not doing a damn thing, here! The only reason we can’t complain is because he’s not actually an employee- he’s technically employed by the investor, not by us. The investor even had the gall to ask us if there was a position available that included travel, because the kid likes to fly!

Of course, we can’t just tell him to stick the kid where the sun don’t shine, 'cause we still need the investor’s money to keep the company’s bills paid.

Then, this morning, the kid mentioned that he bought his father a freakin’ car for Father’s Day!

Holy crap. I got born into the wrong fuckin’ family.

Why, exactly, is this kid getting paid, when the actual employees aren’t AND he doesn’t have anything to do for the job AND he can afford to buy a car as a gift?

Jesus frickin’ Christ.

2

Let me get this straight…

You have been working for several months for nothing?

Why?

3

At least he’s a college kid. Our company “hires” the VP’s high school aged kids for their summers. We basically have to find work for them to do to keep them busy.

I too was born into the wrong family! (being a military brat it would have been really tough for my father to find me a job in his office!)

4

Good GOD, call the local labor unions, or the labor board!

That can’t be fucking LEGAL!

5

Guin, the OP lives in Texas; of course it’s legal :wink:

6

Ooops. I thought this was going to be another Bush bashing thread.

7

In a thread about an incompetent, do-nothing kid who’s the spoiled son from a rich family? Whatever gave you that idea? :wink:

8

Don’t worry about the nephew, even though it sucks. Imho, you should be more concerned about when you will be paid?

9

Yeah, I say screw that ‘dream.’ The investors obviously don’t give two shits about you or the company or its well-being or yours. Find a place to work where you’re valued.

That’s my advice, worth what you paid for it.

10

Just out of curiosity, are you talking about the nepotism or the making everyone else work for little?

11

Not paying everyone else, naturally.

12

You need to give your local labor board a call. The nepotism isn’t illegal but the pay most certainly is. (Even in Texas.)

13

I don’t know much about employment law, but I’d hazard a guess that if the OP is getting more than $825 per month - and, if it’s enough to pay a mortgage, I’d guess it’s likely - then it’s over minimum wage. I don’t know what other laws might be involved, though - anyone?

My thought is that is the OP is an at-will employee, there’s a problem. Basically the OP is giving up pay now for the promise of a big payoff in the event of the company’s success. But if the OP has no contract guaranteeing a share in that success, then there’s nothing to stop the company’s “thanks” from being a large fruit basket, or some such, rather than more tangible financial participation.

In other words, if you’re relying on goodwill, I urge to you rely on promises in writing instead.

  • Rick
14

Hey, are you badmouthing fruit baskets?

15

Yeah, like everyone else in Texas, I’m “at-will”, which, as I understand it, means I’m kinda screwed- but hey, I can leave any time I want!

But I don’t want to. I’m hoping this’ll pay off. Besides… there aren’t a lot of jobs out there. I’ve been looking, but there’s not much.

I just feel insulted by having this kid get paid for doing nothing when I’m working my butt off for no pay… And, as it turns out, the kid doesn’t need the money.

16

For those who are interested, there is an article in the current issue of the Atlantic Monthly (July/August 2003) entitled “In Praise of Nepotism.” The author, Adam Bellow, argues that nepotism is rife in America today, but contends that it is a new nepotism that has moved beyond simple old-fashioned cronyism and taken on a meritocratic caste.

He contends that we need this balance between meritocracy and nepotism, and that “nepotism in itself is neither good nor bad. It’s the way you practice it that matters.” He examines a number of dynastic families, “from the biblical House of David to the Kennedys and the Bushes,” and comes up with three basic rules that allow nepotism to work effectively:

  1. “Don’t embarrass me.” This means, of course, that the beneficiary should not do anything that will reflect badly on his or her patron.

  2. “Don’t embarrass yourself, or, You have to work harder than anyone else.” That is, the person needs to prove their merit to hold the position. They just do it after the fact of being hired, rather than before the fact like regular people.

  3. “Pass it on.” That is, express your gratitude to your parents by being genrous to your children. “This wholesome consciousness implies a certain humility and an acceptance of mortality.”

Personally, i think the guy is full of shit, but it’s quite an interesting article.

17

I am a product of nepotism. My uncle was a Board member of a local bank (before it got bought out). When I finished high school, I was looking for a summer job. Uncle called the personel manager of the bank and I got a phone call saying “Hi, this is so and so. I’m in charge of hiring at X bank. We would like to hire you so please come in and fill out an application.” I was hired as a clerk/typist/gofer in the loan servicing department. They figured I would put my feet up at my desk and read the newspaper all day. Instead, I worked my ass off doing whatever needed to be done (typing, photocopying, etc.) When I left for college, the executive VP said “If you want to come back next summer, we’ll have a spot for you.” I did come back but within a week I had a better job offer (more career oriented). I went to the exec VP and explained that the situation and that I felt I should give them 2 weeks notice but the new job wanted me to start on Monday (this was Thursday). He said “Friday is your last day here and if you ever need a job, we’ll have a spot for you.”

So (in general), nepotism isn’t bad. Like mhendo said, use whatever you can to get your foot in the door but once you’re in, you have to prove yourself.

As for the OP, it sucks that this spoiled little shit gets a job and gets paid for doing nothing while you all have to work. Question: Is the money the shit is getting coming from the company’s budget (i.e. money that could go to you) or from the investor directly?

18

So long as you’re stuck with the kid, you should at least find out if he likes to player poker, or talk him into shelling out for stuff for everyone. “Hey, new guys always buy everyone lunch. It’s a tradition.”