What would you do - advice from the PPOT brain trust
 

So my brother and I started a business 5 years ago - a construction company. When we were forming the company he expressed a desire for his son to someday work with us. I did not disagree.

We had 4 great years, and of course now it's very tough. Still doable, but tough. We went from a high of about 130 employees, down to 25 back at the first of the year, and now around 60 currently. I do not have a lot of hope that our currently ok level of business will continue for the rest of the year. We'll see.

One year ago my brother/business partner/best friend passed away from cancer. He was a wonderful brother, and I miss him a great deal, but he left me with about as many problems as I can handle and still remain sane.

His son will lose his job on 8/1 when the other family business is sold. My nephew has an MBA, but wants to come to work for me - in the field. As in, in the trenches - literally. He claims he wants to learn the business from the ground up (which I actually agree is the only way to learn it). He has never really kept a job aside from in the family business. Due to a divorce early in his life, he has been spoiled by the divorced parents, his maternal grandparents, and his step-mom. He's 30 years old, and I really think he needs to go out and make his own life. He has had a good education, and is reasonably intelligent.

But - even though it may not be what's best for my nephew, I can't shake the fact that my brother again asked me to give him a job a few months before he died. At the time, I told him I'd be honored. Of course, that was when the economy was rocking and rolling. Now, it basically means I either lay someone off who actually produces for the company, or I fail to rehire some other worthy worker. Personally, I am staring down the barrel of three college degrees over the next 8 years, so it's not exactly as if I have the luxury of pissing away the $$. And what about the very expensive education my brother paid for?

- Step-mom and nephew are begging me to hire him
- Wife is apoplectic at the thought

What would you do?

Who inherited your brothers stake in the business?

How can you possibly consider not honoring your agreement with your brother?
Family first.
Your wife has a problem with this? Why?

Make each decision in your head and see which one you could live with.

My hunch is that if you don't hire him you'll feel more guilt than if you fail to hire some other "worthy worker."

He'd only be one of 60 employees, and from the sounds of it, not a very high level one. Doesn't sound like a big deal.

Sounds to me like you gave him your word. I don't see what the economy has to do with it.

What is there to ponder about? You gave your brother your word and that is that.

Does not sound like your nephew is looking for a handout, let him work in the trench and earn his keep.

what about an intern type position, it would suck to replace someone with him only to have him quit a few weeks later.......

imo he at least wants to to it from the bottom to the top, which is respectable......how quick is he expecting to get "to the top", is he expecting that since he's family? if so you need to look at all the angles so it doesn't turn into a headache......

make it business is business.....meaning if he doesn't hold his own he's released, just like any other employee, and make sure he understands this......

on the other hand.....if you're struggling to keep the 60 employees busy then wait until someone quits or gets fired...........

Hire him, tell him he will have to perform to higher standards than the rest because he hopes to move up in the business. Set strict guidelines for his performance. If he understands and agrees to the ground rules he will work out just fine, if he doesn't then fire him. This is what causes family companies to fail, lack of accountability and weeding out the poor performer even if they are family.

You owe it to your brother, blood is thicker than water.

A promise is a promise. Done deal.

However (there's always one of those) you did not promise to keep him regardless of his productivity. I would hire him, but give him the "no special privileges, carry your load" lecture. Failing to make him earn his place on the crew would be a disservice to the kid. Have him report to a supervisor other than yourself and give said supervisor the same lecture. If he works out, you have done well both by your brother and him; if you lay him off for non-productivity you have kept your word to your brother and provided the kid with a needed life lesson.

Helping him get his foot in the door was a promise to your brother. Pulling his weight in the company is up to him and and should be subject to approval and review by a supervisor (don't know if this is you or another employee). Sometimes more is expected when you're family, no free rides.

Hire him. That's all you need to do to make your "I did not disagree" part in good faith. Put him under the watch of a supervisor of some sort and have that person monitor his performance. Your other employees will be watching. You can't afford to lose morale or profits and he needs to know this. So does the rest of the family.

BTW, valued employees often go with the business when it's sold. I have to wonder if he is cutting it at the current job. If not, you've got some problems ahead, but careful planing a strategy can make it all work out for everyone.

The nephew may not like the world of construction. I know I HATE what it has become. In the old days it was long blond hair, a rigging axe for a framing hammer and a surfboard tied to the ladder rack.

Now, it's just a lot of nasty work with nasty people ****ing over everyone else on the job. Not that is anything really new. :D

Oh, and if he doesn't speak Spanish, he will be next to useless in the field. I'd put him in sales on commission. ;) (after 6 mos. of site work, just so he knows what he's selling).

Explain to him just what you explained to us. #1 You're honoring his father by hiring him, #2 You expect him to do twice the work #3 put somebody between him and you as his direct supervisor. After that it's business as usual. He makes the grade or washes out. Either way, you are off the hook and can sleep at night. When he comes to you for favors, etc., refer him back to his supervisor. Tell the rest of the family what you're doing and what your expectations are. It's his choice, ultimately.

Perfect.

You have an absolute obligation to hire him. You made a promise. Whether or not he keeps the job depends on his performance.

Job performance will be a measure of the young mans character. The job offer is a measure of yours.

This is a critical point.

Yikes! Missed this on the first reading. What is you wife's official position in the company. Unless she is in charge of personnel, she needs a firm lecture on "boundaries".

if he truely is going to start out "at the bottom" a guy at 30 yo with all that book learnin ain't gunna want to stick around long doing low end labor. you said construction but what kind? if it's trim carpentry you can be soft as you have knowledge and skill but no room for a trainee. hump some sheet rock, run a jackhammer, fill a debris box or 2, run the end of the concrete pump hose, shovel a bit, all of a sudden that MBA being used in an air conditioned office with skirted tail all about starts looking pretty good again.

t<<< watches work now that he's an inspector

BS, you never know what you have until you put him to work. Education isn't a warranty for hard work but it doesn't mean that an MBA makes a person soft.

What others said, unless your wife's concerns are firmly bounded in experience/observations. If so, address those concerns directly. You promised your brother you'd hire him, not that you'd unconditionally keep him on the payroll. Make that clear upfront.

You would have to be a special breed of sick, soulless fukc to not give your dead brothers boy a job after you promised it......but yea, he has to perform and definitely get a buffer person or two in there.

When you die, the only thing you will still have is your word, my father taught me that.. To me, the most valuable thing I own, is my word, and being able to keep it. Do the right you, in your heart, you know what that is....

Agreed. Hire him, set standards, hold him accountable for meeting them. Evaluate carefully and let him succeed or fail on his own merits.

What has been said about having someone else supervise him is good advice... pick that person wisely so they have a balance of toughness and reason.

Tell that person you will back him up and you won't allow the nephew to go over his head and come to you every time he has a gripe.

Tell the nephew the same thing.

this says allot...coming from a pawnbroker!

Good God Man!
Hire him!

Take him under your wing and teach him everything you know about business, life, friendship, relationships that you can! If he wants to learn, he'll stick around and learn, if not, he'll move on; but really? Give it YOUR best effort. Put all the other things out of your mind; he's family!

Here, Here BYRON! Next beer is on me bud ;)

pawn broker?

I haven't said anything.
Jim

Why is your wife opposed? What does she know that you haven't considered?

Hire him. Put someone else in charge of him. Tell him straight up, he will have to prove himself to you and every other employee there. If it does not work out, fire him. Your obligation was to hire him. Done.

I have worked in family owned business all my life as an employee. The worst of the lot is the bosses kids. They know they will not get fired and do little to really help the company.

This is what I live by -

Thank you for all the good advice.

A few additional points/clarifications:

- I want to do the right thing here, but the discussions we had were at a time when we could afford to have an un-needed employee on the books.
- I want to make it clear there is no money to hire an unnecessary worker. The crews I have are stretched to the max - and they all have families and stories etc. There is no fluff in this industry any longer, as I'm sure Milt can attest to. And you can say "blood is thicker than water" and "family first", but what you are saying is lay off a hard worker for one who has been allowed to skate all his life.
- The nephew has never been able to hold a job unless it's for the family. Before the current job, he landed a terrific job near his home at a defense contractor. He stayed one day and left - said it didn't feel right. His dad bought the next business just to employ him.

All that said, I like the guy and I want to do right by him and his dad. Just not sure if handing him a job is the best thing to do.

It's probably best to just say that times are really tough and you just can't take on anyone else right now... and if things get better you'll try to work him in as soon as it looks doable.

This is my feeling exactly.

You promised your dead brother you would hire him.

Period.

I don't think it is as simple as the majority of responses imply.

But can you give some more information?

Does the nephew have any pertinent experience or skills or knowledge for your sort of business? What kind of work has he been doing up to now? Could he literally work in the trenches, nailing forms and pouring concrete etc, or would you have to find a paper-handling and telephone-dialing sort of job for him? What sort of income is he used to, what could he survive on? Is he incapable of finding another job? Would you actually have to lay off an existing employee to take the nephew on?

Hire him. He claims he is willing to work the trenches--I would be hesitant had he asked for an office or manager position right off the bat--but am enrty level field position shouldn't be a problem.

I am guessing he would be an hourly wage hand. You will be honoring the promise to your brother and taking little financial risk doing so--if he doesn't pan out--can him, at least you gave him the opportunity and kept the promise.

In my construction experience owners and bosses kids have actually worked harder than the average employee as it is always harder--especially to construction workers-- proving that they deserve their job and aren't there just because of their families.

Honor your word! He won't last two weeks in the trenches.

It sounds like you don't think he'll perform. I think you're obligated to hire him, but if he won't pull his weight you can him.

All irrelevant, he made a promise to his brother. His dead brother.

A man's word is the testament to his character. A man who does not keep his word- to his dead brother no less- doesn't have any character.

If the kid is a non-hacker, cut him loose, but to not give him the chance......

Honoring your brother is one thing but I see that you already feel some type of guilt (I could be wrong as it could be the obvious sadness as well). Sorry for your loss.

From your initial statement you said, "I did not disagree". Well did you "promise" your brother in the context that it was "your word" to live up to your brother's hope? It does not sound like it, so I don't see a promise or a problem with keeping your word.

IMHO all of the others that have commented that your nephew wants the opportunity is a completely separate matter and you are not bound to do so based upon your word to your brother. I think if you want to hire him to fulfill your brothers wish, that is a different matter. As others above have stated, hire him with no other expectation than that of which you expect from other employees and explain that to him. The best thing is to trust your judgment as it is your business and your other employees depend on you making the right business decision as does your family.

Heck with the type of credentials your nephew has, he should link up with a developer and learn that business from the ground up. The timing could not be better.