Heritage Album

Should you hire a family member in this situation?

Here is a scenario: Father asks son to serve as marketing manager for a franchise that he will be starting. The son does not have any degree. (He was kicked out of a 4 year university for drinking over spring break and never transferred or completed any type of degree some four years later.) The marketing manager doesn't have any staff to supervise but is responsible for an advertising budget, attracting new clientele and using marketing strategies. However, he will receive 2 weeks training, is intelligent, and always has been a gifted salesman with a silver tongue and good looks. However, the son has always worked a series of minimum wage jobs or just above-minimum wage jobs that he acquired through family connections. He sometimes has issues with authority and sometimes has resented his father for telling him to do something and likes to be the center of attention. He doesn't like making major decisions and will defer it to a manager but he likes to have the power to make the decisions. He manages his budget well enough but has made some purchases that weren't required while ignoring the things of substance he NEEDS to buy. He centers on the claim that he "just wants to be happy" and it doesn't matter if he drives a lexus. However, he expresses envy for others that appear to have more than he has; and will bad mouth others when they are not in hearing distance. He is self-admittedly lazy and doesn't take care of his house or keep his car clean. He works 38 hours a week and is stressed and tired at the end of it. He is easily distracted by video games and likes to play them in his down time. However, he is excited about this business venture, is eager to be a part of it, and has indicated that he is willing to use his car (he has an excellent driving record) to be on call and that he understands it can be 80 hours a week initially. He is under the understanding that this business will be passed down to him in time. Will hiring him help him develop the maturity and business sense/professionalism that he seems to be lacking? Is it helpful that he will have a stake in the business? Or in 6 months to a year will he be bored and not towing the line.

Public Comments

1. In my opinion, you are starting him out in the wrong position. I completely understand wanting to help him develop his skills and work ethic, but starting him in a position such as that isn't going to help that happen. He needs to start from the ground and work his way into a position like that. He needs to earn the respect from others. It's good that he's excited about the prospect of the company, but maybe starting him out under someone else in a lower level sales position would be better. Heck, even a mail clerk! One thing to consider, however, is that if you have him directly report to someone else, the parent needs to stay out of it. Let the supervisor in charge handle him the way he should be handled if he acts up. Don't give him everything, make him work for it. Otherwise, he will just feel a sense of entitlement and lack of understanding for the work everyone else does. Good luck!