Context

A number of President Biden’s senior officials have relatives or spouses working for the administration, and the Biden administration is being accused of promoting nepotism in the newly formed government following the 2020 US Presidential election.

Background

• Secretary of State Tony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and White House press secretary Jen Psaki each have one direct family member working for the federal government.
• In addition to them, top White House staffers such as senior adviser Anita Dunn, counselor Steve Richetti, deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and Presidential Personnel Office director Cathy Russell each have at least one family member employed by the administration.
• Former President Donald Trump appointed his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as senior advisers.

Analysis

What is nepotism?

Nepotism is the practice of those with power (perhaps your boss or manager), showing favouritism towards friends or family; usually by way of giving them a job or benefits. 

Advantages of Nepotism in the Workplace

• Pleasant environment: In hiring friends or relative in an organization can create a friendly and pleasant working environment. Friends and family may bring many useful skills to your business.
• Better work division: You already know the capabilities of your relatives and close friends. This will let you assign just the right tasks to each person, based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. However, only hire friends or relatives that you are sure are qualified for the position. So that it cannot lead problems in the workplace. 
• Quick training: Friends and family may already be familiar with your company and how it works. You wouldn't need to spend as much time training new employees with the aims of your company. 
• Individual Benefit: Hiring your children can also bring special advantages. Your company will have another capable employee, while your family will be earning extra money. There may also be tax advantages to hiring your children.
• Better Sense of ownership: Family members and close friends enter a business agreement with you already possessing a strong commitment to you as an individual, and, most likely, to your company. Because of this, they may be more willing to work longer hours (such as evenings or weekends) when necessary.
• Dedicated HR: Family members are usually very dedicated resulting in high turnover. There is a higher level of commitment since relatives want to see the company succeed. Loyalty, morale and trust are also high. 

Disadvantages of Nepotism in the Workplace

• Poor work-life balance: Hiring friends and family may allow for familial disputes and interactions to negatively affect the way your business runs. 
• Poor workforce rationalization: A friend or family member may take advantage of their status, knowing that it is more difficult to fire someone who is close to you. 
• Other employees may feel jealous when you hire a friend or family member, thinking it is favouritism. This may especially be the case when a family member or friend is given a promotion over a non-relative/friend.   
• Ripple effects on other employees: Personal family problems or disagreements between friends may be brought to the workplace. This may make it uncomfortable for other employees and difficult for work to get done. 
• Poor HR management: Problems in the work place may be brought home to the family. They may also influence your relationship with your friends. It may be more difficult to create a necessary change in the workplace when it might negatively affect your friend or relative that works for you. 
• Decrease of Moral: Mistreating your employees by favoring your relatives, undeserved promotions and benefits it lead to problem to the workplace, the employees who work well to their jobs may disappoint and they discourage to perform their jobs complete. 

Conclusion

Nepotism is a harmful practice in the organization or workplace if it used and interpret it in negative way. However, these may avoid in few possible solutions: 

• Only hire friends or relatives that you are sure are qualified for the position. 
• Hire friends or family on a 3-month ad-hoc basis. Then, if you like they way they work hire them on a permanent basis. 
• Make it very clear to friends and family that they will be treated the same as any other employee. Meaning that they could be fired just the same as other employees. 
• Have a written contract with each friend or relative that explains their duties and responsibilities to the company, as well as their compensation. Having a written contract in place can ease tension and make their job less personal and more professional.