What would you do - advice from the PPOT brain trust

daepp · 06-02-2009, 01:46 PM

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?

rick-l · 06-02-2009, 01:52 PM

Who inherited your brothers stake in the business?

creaturecat · 06-02-2009, 01:56 PM

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

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

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."

the · 06-02-2009, 02:00 PM

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.

Tishabet · 06-02-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

At the time, I told him I'd be honored. Of course, that was when the economy was rocking and rolling.

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

alf · 06-02-2009, 02:04 PM

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.

bell · bell's Garage

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...........

widgeon13 · 06-02-2009, 02:12 PM

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.

Jim727 · 06-02-2009, 02:14 PM

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.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

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.

Zeke · 06-02-2009, 02:26 PM

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.

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).

Crowbob · 06-02-2009, 02:39 PM

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.

Moses · 06-02-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

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.

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.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowbob

#3 put somebody between him and you as his direct supervisor.

This is a critical point.

Moses · 06-02-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

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

What would you do?

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".

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

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

georgeinhere · 06-02-2009, 04:48 PM

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by car 311

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? all of a sudden that MBA being used in an air conditioned office with skirted tail all about starts looking pretty good again.

Hugh R · 06-02-2009, 05:01 PM

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.

lendaddy · 06-02-2009, 05:01 PM

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.