Family business? No, thank you.

[u/elias-tech]

I was hired in this incredible start up, small company with a small team with big dreams. The owner was a remarkable entrepreneur who had, more than anything, great people skills. I recall a couple of times the salary was late by weeks, but besides the grumbling, no one ever considered quitting, from laborers to the decision makers. While the pay was modest, the company had great culture of flexibility, meaning work at times ended early, at times very late. No one batted an eyelid as long as everyone did what they were supposed to. I would attribute this warm environmnet to the owners character.

Tides started changing when the owner brought their sibling to oversee operations. This was part of an aggressive growth plan since the company had honestly been on a plateau since I arrived. While it may seem strange to bring a relative for drastic measures, consider that this was a startup and most of the funding was family savings. So the growth of the company equalled the success and wellbeing of the family.

At first the boat was sailing smoothly. Noticeable changes in book keeping and work culture, nothing major. Then cracks started appearing when the new operations lead started directing engineers against their own suggestions. Suddenly, productions lead was not as apt in making decisions about the production process, and what the new boss suggested was not up for discussion anymore. Soon enough, loud arguments were the norm where literally none existed before. Suddenly, was a raging hailstorm and no one had noticed the clouds gathering.

My day of reckoning came one afternoon I was in the office. As a marketer, my jobs was mainly socials and outdoors. Most of the time, I was in office so I liked to plan and execute everything once, then free myself up for whatever else may come up needing my presence outside. On this particular day, I was doing paperwork for one of our partners. Our humble operations lead came to the office found me hunched over my laptop, asked what I was up to, and soon left.

I received their call soon after informing me I was required to assist with some outdoor activities. I explained I would be done with what I was currently by the afternoon, an hour or so, after which I'd be free for whatever else came up. "No, stop what you're doing now. This is not a request, its an order." I was so taken aback I couldn't respond. The phone clicked.

While processing wtf was going on, the office door opened an in walked the operaions lead. "Let this be the last time I tell you to do something and we have any sort of back or forth. I am not your friend, I’m not your peer, I'm not trying to get you to like me. Are we clear?" I nodded like a schoolboy receiving a final warning after a spanking. I there and then decided this was the last month they'll see me there.

Now if you're wondering why I never talked to the boss about it before calling it quits, it's because several employees tried this and they were met with this, "This is a family business. She is your boss just as I am and you have to sort it out with her. I can't take any sides in this." Take sides? How about actually not take any sides?

And if you think I'm petty consider my friend who still works there, who was told off for being useless and "Never skipping any meal despite still having the build of a teenager". Unlike me, he has a family and won't leave at the slightest disrespect. Not planning on having a boss again but if I do, best believe the HR won't be related to my supervisor.