Nepotism

I work in a childcare the owner and the owners sister in law work there the mother of one is the cleaner and the owners mother is the cook.

It's the influence of class and money. That extends beyond people who go to private schools.

I think what we are seeing is that nepotism is a complex issue. the examples quoted by foxie48 are the negative side of it and I think few of us would disagree with her, but, as I said it spirals down to trivial cases like my DGD Saturday job, or the plumber's apprentice.

I do think too many people exagerate the influence of a private education, beyond the school years. There are 20 or 30, at the most, private schools that can play the old school tie and influence game, but most universities will not have heard of most private schools, and even fewer employers.

Back in the 1980s my children went to private secondary schools. Since they left - and one returned to the state sector at 16, I do not think anyone has ever recognised the name of their school, nor have either of them ever had any advancement because someone wielded any influence for them because of the school they had been to. Most people take very little interest in what school people went to after the age of about 20.

There are 'dynasties' of all sorts, not just acting. I can think a family of doctors and another couple of teaching families just locally here.
Giving someone you know a helping hand is a great thing to do. It helps both sides in a private business.

When public money is involved I feel the selection process should be open to all.

So, what about bright young people who don't have any family connections? Don't they deserve to have the same opportunities? They could be more suitable, just as responsible, have all of the qualities required for the job but they never even get the chance to apply. This sort of "nepotism" is why people pay vast sums of money to send their kids to the right schools, because it's not what you know, it's who you know. My OH's nephew got a plum job in the city, he's super bright (but so are lots of Oxbridge grads) and he's hard working, however, it just happened that his father owned a city accountancy firm and had extremely good connections. I think people are happy with "nepotism" if they see their own benefitting but not so happy when it's not. No, it's not right but it's common practice.

Yes nepotism exists from top to bottom, but the candidate still has to turn up for work and learn the job whatever it is. If dad or uncle or next door neighbour helps a youngster and is let down he doesn’t get a second chance.

ALL employers want young workers to learn to do whatever job it is, if they don’t turn up that means someone else has to fill in, even the most junior matter.
They have to earn the respect of the older workers as well so leave your phone in your jacket and follow instructions if you are willing to learn everyone will help you.
There are plenty of jobs but graduate level openings are restricted, probably always were, only those with a high grade in a relevant subject are going to find work easily.

Nepotism for me is only a bad thing when someone gets a job that they're unable to do, simply because of who they're related too or who they know.

I'm ok with it, since as others have said, it opens a door but you still have to climb the stairs.

All of our children have benefited from this in either a small or larger way. But we have always reminded them that you may have got the job because of your family's good reputation, you must uphold that. Your actions also reflect back onto your family.

I think the prime objection to getting a job on the old pals' act is that it cuts out more able candidates who may be from a different class or ethnic background. Historically it was the case that the sons of doctors were preferred by the medical schools. Public bodies like national museums and large institutions like merchant banks have been criticised for employing unpaid interns who then gain advantage in job finding but that works against those who can't afford to work (and live) unpaid for months.

As a teenager I worked in a factory for a year where almost everybody employed was related to someone already working there. My DF got his job because my uncle already worked there. My brother and I both got jobs because DF worked there. It was a great place to work and a lot of women worked there - no bullying, no messing about, because everyone knew who you were and word would get back to the family if you caused trouble.

I think it is tricky. Our DS was upset when he was starting out that his Dad did not get him a job. My DH was a director of one of the big multi-nationals and did not think it ethical to use his influence to get our DS a job.
As it happens DS has done very well for himself and is proud he did it on his own.
Of course we gave him all the support we could - help with CV's etc but in the end he did it all by himself.

I got work experience for DS through my contacts. At his school, all pupils did 2 weeks work experience in what was then First year VI form.

DS's career plans were somewhat esoteric,but I knew people woking in the field so I sorted out his experience for him, unpaid and he did not get a job with them as a result - that required a BA, MA and PhD. But it was useful for interviews and gave him employment understanding.

Nepotism opens a door , no elevator, the staircase still has to be used.

Being a Freemason uses a sort of nepotism.

A BiL who has been phenomenally successful in his (financial) career, got his first job opening through a grandmother of his then girlfriend ‘having a word’ with somebody.

At the other end of the scale, a dd got a relatively very cushy Saturday job through the parent of a schoolfriend. It was in a very up-market estate agent, where she basically just had to look reasonably well-groomed, answer the phone and cope if all the other staff were out doing viewings - for just half a day.

Other dd, who earned exactly the same money for a whole day life guarding at our local pool, was not impressed!

What the business owners should have done - is what they did do. Hire people without expensive process. It's sensible.

I do most of my husband's hiring, on recommendations of the workers - they know who can work and who can get on well. Done!

Its always been so, hasn't it?
'its not what you know, its who you know' - or so I'm told.

A relative has a thing about nepotism. Always grumbling about it particularly with TV presenters and actors.Dan Snow seems to generate particular ire !He doesn't see the irony that his own DCs benefited greatly by gaining work experience through friends which undoubtedly helped in university and job applications. And didn't like me pointing that out because 'that's different '.

My GS has just started an apprenticeship after his dad, (our DS) who knew the MD of the firm, enquired if they took on apprentices.

They gave him a week’s unpaid trial, to see if he liked the look of the work and if they thought he would be any good. They seemed impressed with him, he seemed to like it too, result.

DS wondered if it was ethical to do what he did, I thought it was ok.

(Should say GS had applied for about 40 jobs and 15 apprenticeships, he looked well qualified for all of them, but he either never heard back or was told his application wasn’t being taken forward. Good GCSE’s, 2 A levels. Not surprising so many go on to university or college, but he wanted to start earning and not end up with a lot of debt).

There's well qualified (in the certificate sense) and there's eminently suitable without the paper qualifications but needing work experience.

Very neighbourly and local community-minded employers get my vote every time so long as the employees fit the eminently suited category.

Advertisements and formal interviews are for when there isn't an eminently suitable local person available.

I got my first part time job (age 14) because my sister was friends with the daughter of the shop owner. I heard them talking about the fact that the older brother (who helped out) was starting college and the owner was looking for a part timer. I jumped in quickly and took myself down to the shop to ask about the job. Saying that "I know your daughter S" probably helped me get my foot in the door. I just call that quick thinking and is typical of Liverpool people to use a contact to their advantage.

I worked there on and off for almost 5 years and never paid a penny in tax or NI. I was always paid in cash from the till.

nanna8 the point is the well qualified stranger wouldn't know about the job. Both DGD and plumber's apprentice were shoe-ins.

Do not think I disapprove of the practice. It is just there has been so much in the media recently showing disapproval of the children of those in show business and modelling following in their parents footsteps and suggesting they had an unfair advantage.

Generally, if the scions are not up to the mark they don't stay. Their main advantage is that they have grown up in theatical families, or their mother is a model so they imbue the industry from birthand there is such a thing as inherited talent, which really isn't much different from my plumbers apprentice, who is the son of a fellow tradesman, who happens to live in a run of houses that seem to be exclusively owned by self-employed tradesmen, which means the building industry and different trades are part of his childhood, so wanting to go into the industry himself and starting with an apprenticeship with a neighbour who knows him, is really no different from the daughter of 2 actors getting an acting job, she is likely to be a kown quantity.

It is not a lot different for DGD. the cafe is a cake specialist where DGD has been a customer. She is an avid and excellent cook herself and loves baking cakes. She will not be baking in her job, but her skills and tastes make her ideal for this specific cafe.

seems a sensible way of finding an employee to me and it's always been that way with craftspeople/traders and in small communities

I got my first job which indirectly led to my career because a family friend was working there.
In terms of celebrities I think it's fine if they have the skills/talents necessary, however there are quite a few who er obviously havent.

If I could I would if they were capable and willing.