The problem with family-owned businesses is that no justice can ever be made. Those who run them can do whatever they want within their own franchise, but aren't there enforced boundaries as to what is ethical or unethical in the workplace? Is it right to cut someone's hours and give more to their own nephew? Are they really allowed to pick up their cell phones and chat away? Who exactly qualifies managers with such poor communication skills to run a business?
I used to intern/work for a family-owned Allstate Corporation office. Within four months of working with the manager, I noticed some things that made work less motivating and enjoyable. At the same time, it explains why the office was empty to begin with and why he had hired me on the day of my interview. Since I was already far into the required hours I needed for my internship, it was a little too late to quit and find a new one.
One of the things I noticed while working for this specific office is racism and discrimination. The manager puts up a friendly face for those who come in for an interview, but once that person leaves, he demeans them in the most inappropriate way. Not only is this man afraid to speak his mind, picking on people of certain cultures, but he also has a lot of nerve to make racist remarks in front of his fellow assistants, including me. Apparently physical figures (big, small, thick, or round) and ethnicity matter a lot to him. I also question the number of customers who come in specifically to argue with him.
Another thing is that he will step out of the office in the middle of the day, but for how long, who knows? Many of the customers who question his whereabouts are left without an answer and are sometimes left to wait up to 20-40 minutes until he gets back. Aside from lunch breaks, everyone in the office is unaware of his whereabouts.
Apparently he and his sister run both Allstate Insurance offices within the Columbia Heights/Kenyon Square areas, and I do not recommend either of them to anyone. Customers constantly question why their payments have increased to unbelievable figures, which also makes me suspicious of them. He is also known to overwork young college students and make empty promises to his assistants. One of them was supposed to be compensated for $600 in accumulated car tickets and a boot received at work, none of which he took responsibility for.
His sister is a different story. Since the manager had left for vacation, she was to cover for his office while he was gone for the month. Before an argument sparked up between her and me, I had witnessed an argument she had started previously with a customer. Cruel, brash, and very uneducated, she categorized my position as the "scanner person" and was unaware of my internship position. Apparently they both only hire people for the sake of their company and are inconsiderate of the feelings of the employees.
If anyone is thinking of applying there, I do not recommend it unless you can tolerate racist remarks and discrimination. It is hard and sad to believe a manager can still get away with this while assistants sit and do nothing about it.
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