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How to Report Nepotism in the Workplace

How to Report Nepotism in the Workplace

 

Although there are several laws and policies in place to prevent it, nepotism still occurs. However, that does not mean that you have to stand by and endure unfair treatment at the hands of your employer or supervisor. If you have witnessed or experienced nepotism, here’s how you can report nepotism in the workplace and still protect yourself against retaliation.

What is Nepotism?

Nepotism can take many forms. However, it boils down to discrimination that occurs when people in positions of authority or power give their relatives or friends preferential treatment. Most commonly, it involves hiring, awarding promotions, or assigning leadership roles despite a lack of knowledge, skills, or experience.

No matter how it presents itself though, nepotism is always toxic to the workplace environment because it threatens equal treatment and fairness. When nepotism becomes commonplace, it lowers staff morale. Additionally, it also lowers overall productivity when rewards and recognition are not merit-based. Furthermore, it increases the company’s employee turnover rate since it creates conflict and an unhealthy professional environment. If nepotism is part of the work culture, it undermines all sense of camaraderie and cooperation.

How Do You Recognize Nepotism in the Workplace?

Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize when nepotism occurs. This can become especially tricky if you are experiencing strong opinions or emotions about the situation. However, being related to someone or having an existing relationship doesn’t automatically qualify their hiring as nepotism. If they are qualified and have extensive training or experience, they may be the best candidate for the job. It is also a common business practice to groom people for specific positions if they intend to pass the company to the next generation.

So how do you determine when nepotism is happening? While these questions are not all-inclusive, they can provide some guidelines to help you recognize nepotism in the workplace.

Are they unqualified?

First and foremost, you have to ask yourself, ‘Is this person qualified for their position?’ If they hold the proper degrees and certifications or have years of experience in the field, then it will be difficult to argue your case. However, if an employee lacks the appropriate education or training for their position, then this is a huge red flag.

Do they receive special treatment?

Another important question to ask is if an employee is getting special treatment from someone in a position of authority. This point is more subjective and much more difficult to prove. However, clear favoritism towards a particular employee could be considered nepotism. For example, it can occur when an authority figure chooses a friend or family member for the most enticing projects and assignments. Or, perhaps they consistently receive the best hours or work schedule.

Other times you may witness nepotism when a friend or family member is not held to the same standards as other employees. An employee benefitting from nepotism might take advantage of their relationship by not following company rules, evading responsibilities, or not working as hard as other employees. On the other hand, you may also witness it when someone receives less severe consequences than other employees who make the same mistake. While these behaviors do not always indicate nepotism, they are a few clear examples of how preferential treatment can lead to nepotism.

Are they receiving a higher salary?

If you are collecting evidence to report nepotism in the workplace, start by following the money trail. If someone earns a higher salary for the same job or gets bigger bonus checks due to their relationship, then there is a strong case for nepotism.

Have they been fast-tracked for promotions?

This last point is one that most often leads to people reporting nepotism. Unfortunately, it can also become the most complicated if the complaint comes from a disgruntled employee. Nepotism clearly occurs when the company promotes a friend or family before more qualified and experienced employees. It also happens when someone is put into the most coveted positions without earning it. These are blatant examples of special treatment when an employee doesn’t have to ‘pay their dues’ or climb the corporate ladder.

How Do You Report Nepotism in the Workplace?

If you believe that you have a strong case and want to report nepotism in the workplace, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. You must file a complaint with the HR Department.

When you decide to make a report, you will need to file a formal complaint with the Human Resources Department. Remember to keep it professional and remain a model employee. Don’t let your negative feelings impact the quality of your work. If you stay above reproach, you appear more credible. So, continue to perform your duties with poise and professionalism even after you file the complaint.

2. Keep records of your work.

If you feel you were unfairly passed over for a promotion due to nepotism in the workplace, you will need evidence. Start by compiling documents that show a history of your work performance. Highlight your areas of excellence as proof that you were the most deserving candidate for the position. You can look at past projects you were involved in or performance evaluations demonstrating your qualifications for the position.

4. Gather evidence.

In addition to your own work record, keep track of each instance you witness the preferential treatment. You can also include testimony from other employees and coworkers to corroborate your claim. However, be certain to only include the facts, not your opinions or impressions.

5. Prepare for a potential backlash.

Anytime you come forward, you subject yourself to potential backlash. The best way to protect yourself is to prepare for the worst. Know the local laws covering nepotism and maintain a good performance record. Don’t be surprised by underhanded attempts designed to make you leave or make your life difficult.

What Are the Possible Repercussions?

Although it doesn’t always happen, you may experience retaliation from the benefactor or the person in the position of authority. Since your name will appear on the report, they will know who filed the complaint. While company policies forbid retaliation, there are several ways to create a hostile work environment to make you quit. If they put your performance under the microscope, it is crucial not to sink to their level. Remain professional through any added scrutiny, unfair evaluations, and less-than-desirable assignments.

However, if you feel retaliation has reached extreme measures or that you may be in danger, seek professional counsel. No one should have to deal with discrimination or inequality in the workplace. Get sound legal advice on the best course of action to protect your and your future.

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Start Working Independently As An Entrepreneur

Are you looking for ways to leverage your skills to work independently? Are you thinking about earning more money? In our rapidly changing society, there’s a new breed of entrepreneurs: Nurse Entrepreneurs.

In many states, Nurse Practitioners are now able to work independently, sparking all kinds of new business opportunities. Let’s look at the big moves to get started.

Start Your Education

If you want to work as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), you’ll need to get the right education and training. The fastest and most convenient way to do this is with an online nurse practitioner program.

This is a great way to balance a busy work schedule and keep your career moving forward. Online learning is flexible, making it possible to juggle a full work schedule while you pursue your career goals.

Start Your Practice

Like every entrepreneur, you’re looking for ways to earn more money by starting your own business. That’s why it helps to look at your practice as a business.

Know your clientele and the local population. Staring with the ‘who’ for your business is a step that will shape everything about your practice. It may affect your business name, logo, and branding. It will impact your messaging and communication with the community. It may inspire you to go into special areas of practice such as private or concierge nursing.

Start Expanding

Some states make it possible for NP’s to practice independently. If you live in a state where this is possible, the sky is the limit. However, even if you live in a state where the practice is restricted, there are many business opportunities to explore.

You can use your nursing expertise to help people in ways that you may not have considered. Here are a few ideas to get the wheels turning:

  • Offer medical consulting services
  • Offer medical consulting services for legal issues
  • Open a medical spa or shared treatment clinic
  • Offer health coaching for individuals, families, teams, and companies
  • Provide concierge nursing
  • Offer telemedicine consults as part of a larger facility

Start a Social Media

As you get your NP business off the ground, start sharing ideas with social media. A lot of nurses are doing this and creating a following. When you’re thinking about social media, think about things that you want to share. It may be that with your special knowledge and expertise, you’ve got important insights to share.

Use your passion for health and wellness to reach people who may be in your community and region. Explore ways to encourage questions, interaction, and lively conversation. While you may start with Facebook or Instagram, you can also expand into YouTube videos.

If you’re not sure what is best, join some online groups. Check out entrepreneur groups and nurse practitioner groups. This kind of networking grows organically. It will give you a sense of community and help you organize your content in ways that appeal to your target audience.

Start Your Team

When you’re starting your practice, you will quickly realize what every solo entrepreneur comes to know. You can’t do it alone. Not only “can’t,” but “don’t” want to do it alone.

Even if you have a “solo” practice, you’ll want a team to support your work. You may want staff, co-workers, or co-practitioners. You may also find that it’s helpful to have a complementary practitioner who knows the local population. Perhaps you will find it useful to work with a business partner for legal, financial, or professional support.

Your team also includes people outside your practice. For example, you’ll build a team of advisors to help with issues such as licensing, taxes, insurance, and legalities.

Start Your Wellness Plan

There’s no question that personal health and well-being are important. That’s why you are working in healthcare. However, when you’re starting your own business, personal health can come up short.

Since you want to not leave this for later, start now. Make a health plan for yourself. Set up your workload to include self-care. Schedule off time, me-time, and regroup time. Set up a weekly exercise plan. Organize your calendar to include time for seeing friends and family.

Be sure to hit the high notes: nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Have a solid plan for maintaining a healthy diet. Set up exercise as part of your workday. Schedule relaxation so you get quality sleep. It may seem like a lot, but as an entrepreneur, you’re in charge. Create the business you’ve always dreamed of having.

Challenges Small Businesses Are Facing During the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has caused small businesses everywhere a lot of problems. Social distancing, the limits on who can work, and even wearing masks and other protective equipment have created several problems for small businesses. Restaurants and grocery stores have been especially hard hit; restaurants have been forced to be even more careful than normal, and grocery stores have to be especially wary of how customers act within their stores. There is no question that the pandemic has changed business, and some of those changes are going to be with us for quite a while.

The Basics

Every business has had to deal with masks and social distancing, as well as determining if they are considered an essential business or not. That latter question is definitely a question for a business lawyer; which businesses are considered essential are not always clear, making for a question that can require a definite answer. Social distancing is another issue that businesses are finding to be interesting. While some businesses are already set up for it, others have had to place markers on the floor to help delineate exactly where customers can stand in line. A number of businesses have found some clever ways of getting the point across.

Masks have made life interesting, especially for businesses with a number of security concerns. Enforcing masks has become a major issue, both for customers and employees; some customers are balking their use due to political issues, while some employees are finding them restrictive at work. Even alternative gear, such as face shields, are disliked. Fortunately, most businesses have put up plastic shields near cashier stations as another form of protection for both customers and employees. Most businesses are quickly adapting to the majority of problems presented by the pandemic.

The Problem With Food Preparation 

Businesses that rely on food preparation have been especially hard hit. They have had to enforce new standards while at the same ensuring that old standards are still followed; the mask issue has really become an issue for some places due to how employees hate wearing them, but management has usually prevailed. Some items on various menus have been discontinued due to how they prepared, while others have had to be prepared differently. Some restaurants have had to curtail dine-in service, while others have limited seating to allow for social distancing. All of this has made preparing and serving food an interesting venture.

Curbside and Delivery

A shining light has been an increase in curbside and delivery. Businesses started offering curbside service as a way to deal with social distancing: A customer could place an order, pay for it through credit cards, and then pick it up once they arrived. This is something that some businesses may keep as it reduces the time customers are inside the store while providing a valuable service to the customers. Delivery has become a lot more popular, and apps and various delivery services have increased their range and services that they are attached to, making for a great service to the business and customer.

How A Business Attorney Can Help

Obviously, a small business can use whatever help they can use in this environment. There are a number of new legal codes in use in order to help limit the spread of the virus, making the advice of an attorney invaluable when it comes to navigating the new codes. An attorney can help a small business determine which codes apply to specific businesses as well as how to post the signage necessary to communicate the changes to customers and employees alike. The attorney can also help navigate any breaches of those laws, should it be necessary. One shining example is Cory Briggs, a San Diego attorney who works tirelessly to help small business owners when it seems like no one else will.

A business attorney can help any small business even under normal circumstances; there are always legal questions that pop up over even the smallest matter, and there are always legal forms that need to be updated and gone over. However, in an era where the rules seem to keep changing every few months, a little paranoia is not necessarily a bad thing and having someone able to go over the rules with a business owner can be well worth the money. You need someone whose expertise can make life easier for you, and given how vital following the rules can be to just doing business, an appointment with an attorney can be the best thing for your business.