If the owner of your company recently hired his son as your manager, another co-worker might have privately complained about it as a case of nepotism. What is nepotism, you might wonder? Is it illegal, and how can it affect your workplace? You and other Florida residents may be interested in learning when nepotism might be acceptable and whether it could qualify as discrimination.
As Entrepreneur explains, nepotism is not unlawful in the private sector, but the practice may be harmful in the workplace if it unfairly limits or discriminates against you or your co-workers. Nepotism is described as favoritism, usually slanted toward a superior’s close family member or romantic partner.
If you work for a family-owned company that traditionally places members of the family in charge, the father-son management dynamic of your workplace might not qualify as unfair nepotism. This may also be true if your boss interviewed numerous applicants for the management position and chose his son for the job based on his experience and qualifications, rather than familial favoritism.
On the other hand, an instance of nepotism may negatively impact you and others if your supervisor hires close friends and family members merely for their relationship to him, and not for their work qualifications. It might qualify as a form of discrimination if nepotism causes you to lose a promotion or position you were previously promised, or if you are terminated or demoted for voicing your concerns.
Workplace discrimination is often a highly complex topic; therefore, this information is not meant to stand in for qualified legal counsel.
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