"Nightmare" at a family business: Why does going to the restroom take 10 minutes?

A family business is understood as a company where members of the same family hold most of the capital or management positions. Employees in these companies often face considerable difficulties in reconciling "outsider-family" relationships and "internal family conflicts."

The family business model is increasingly flourishing in major cities (Photo: Pexels).

Fire an employee simply because... they don't like the look of them.

After facing layoffs at her previous company, Thu Phuong (24 years old, a marketing employee in Hanoi ) decided to work at a beauty company with only about 10 employees.

Phuong's department head is the son of the CEO (Chief Executive Officer). Furthermore, most other key positions here are also held by relatives of the owner.

During her time working there, Phuong was frequently assigned tasks such as graphic design, which were outside the initial requirement of only writing content. However, since her colleagues accepted this, she reluctantly went along with it.

"During weekly meetings, I present ideas but they are always dismissed or ignored. When I offer suggestions about organizational shortcomings, if one boss is displeased, all departments join in the criticism… This makes me feel isolated and unnecessary here," Phuong said.

Being constantly scrutinized by prying eyes everywhere leaves many young employees exhausted (Photo: Pexels).

Similarly, right after graduating from university, Hoang Long (27 years old, a communications employee in Ho Chi Minh City) also had a terrifying experience working at a family company.

Here, rewards and recognition are unclear, and bosses often discriminate between employees who are liked and disliked. Long witnessed leaders repeatedly berating or firing colleagues in the middle of meetings simply because they "didn't like" them.

"They were only 5 minutes late for the meeting, and all three members of the same team were immediately fired by their boss in the middle of the meeting. This wouldn't happen if you worked at a well-organized company with clear employment contracts. From that moment on, I was always cautious, trying to please my boss, but I couldn't last more than a year," Long added.

Unclear regulations and inconsistent rewards and punishments are common problems in "family-run" companies (Photo: Pexels).

Reported for going to the restroom for... 10 minutes

Thanh Ngan (25 years old, a consultant in Ho Chi Minh City) said she works for a company where both she and her husband are bosses. Employees are closely monitored because the leaders have "eyes and ears" everywhere. Even if she goes out to receive deliveries, order food, or relax for just 5-7 minutes, she's immediately reported and reprimanded.

"One day, my boss even asked me why I took so long in the restroom when I'd only been away from my desk for about 10 minutes. In general, in a company where there are both family members and outsiders, employees are discriminated against and meticulously scrutinized," Thanh Ngan added.

Furthermore, the fact that she and her husband lead the business often puts Ngan in a dilemma when both of them call on her for tasks at the same time.

"While I was handling some work for my sister-in-law, my husband kept rushing me, and both of them insisted on finishing the work by the end of the day. I felt suffocated working for eight hours straight, and then I had to bring work home in the evening. It's only been two months, but I probably won't last long at this family business," Thanh Ngan said.

Many employees at family-owned companies are frustrated by constant reprimands for unwarranted reasons (Photo: Hustle Culture).

Furthermore, the internal culture at her family business is also causing Ngan headaches. She's bewildered because every time an employee makes a mistake, the company adds a new rule.

Recently, because she rushed to complete a task assigned by her boss during her lunch break, and arrived 5 minutes late for her afternoon shift after eating, she was reprimanded and received a new rule: a fine for being even one minute late.

"Every day I have to hold my breath going to work because of the watchful and scrutinizing eyes everywhere," Ngân complained.

In conclusion, Thu Phuong believes that family businesses give young employees the opportunity to showcase and prove themselves due to their small size and lack of rigid structures. However, this also indicates a lack of professionalism, leading to ambiguity in everything.

According to HR Insider Vietnam, to thrive in a "family-run company" environment like the one described above, employees need to keep the following in mind:

First, always doing exactly what your superiors tell you to do and earning their trust will make it easier for you to advance in your career.

Secondly, don't compare your compensation with that of your boss's family members, because the nature of family businesses is to prioritize family members.

Third, create opportunities to build relationships with your boss's children or relatives. Having a good relationship with their family will be a stepping stone to making your work easier.

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/ac-mong-cong-ty-gia-dinh-sao-di-ve-sinh-ma-toi-10-phut-20230830131126348.htm