Nepotism is a form of discrimination in which family members are hired for reasons that do not necessarily have anything to do with their experience, knowledge. or skills
NEPOTISM IN THE WORKPLACE
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Nepotism is a form of discrimination in which family members are hired for reasons that do not necessarily have anything to do with their experience, knowledge, or skills. It creates a situation where those that are qualified for opportunities don't get them. People often imagine that working with their loved ones will be utter joy and contentment, which is the driving idea behind nepotism; apart from monopolizing the income to one's family and friends. However, history attests to the fact that all nepotism does is to create conflicts and inhibit progress.
It does create rifts in the workforce, breeds resentment, penalizes hard-working team members, and gives an unfair advantage to the undeserving and unqualified. It also causes major workplace disruptions, which can reduce overall productivity and negatively impact the unit's morale. Predominantly, nepotism becomes troublesome because of over-familiarity between family members and friends. Close relationships commonly give rise to favouritism in the workplace; or in part some suspicions of it. It becomes difficult to draw the lines when familiar individuals find themselves in a superior-subordinate relationship.
Ordinarily, the subordinate family member may take advantage of this situation by not working as hard as others or not following organizational rules or orders from the superior family member. "Usually, the family member at the helm of affairs cannot or will not control the subordinate's activities or administer discipline when necessary. It is nepotism when relatives are not disciplined for evading the responsibilities that come with their positions. It's a red flag when they behave unprofessionally at work and get away with it," filmmaker Pankaj Purohit said.
Nepotism brings about mediocrity in the workplace because selections aren't based on merit. Unfortunately, nepotists don't care. This is why many talents can never work their way up. They come so far with their dreams only to realize that they don't have the necessary contacts to advance in their careers. Consequently, a small-town talent with merit remains unsuccessful. This is gross injustice.
BOLLYWOOD AS A CASE STUDY
What often transpires in Bollywood is a classic example of nepotism. Millions of people come from small towns and villages to the tinsel town, hoping to make it big in Bollywood. Most of the aspirants initially have preconceived notions that India's financial capital and hub of the film industry will welcome them with open arms if they have the talent.
Sadly, reality soon dawns on them. They live from hand to mouth, and struggle to survive in Mumbai. They find that their projections were wrong, and they've built castles in the air, all the while. Most end up not being able to find a place to call home or even have a decent living. Wandering from one production house to another and not being able to make ends meet, they face the brunt of harsh reality. Within the first month, most of these talents return to their respective small towns and villages. "These young artists who came to the city, ebullient men with zeal and hunger to become stars. Unfortunately, many can't even land the role of a junior artist. The over-optimistic ones drag on for approximately another six months, living in slums or chawls near western railway tracks. Under severely distressed circumstances, another group of thousands go back, with their dreams shattered," the filmmaker expressed.
Many struggling actors wind up doing odd jobs as auto-rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, salesmen, security guards and labourers at construction sites just to make ends meet while they struggle. The few who manage to get any close to "success" are those that end up working as junior artists or other crew members in the film unit. Purohit revealed, "A minuscule fraction get noticed due to their exceptional talent and land up character roles. But the numbers are far too few, and the odds far too slim. The mainstream narrative declares that 'if you have talent, you reach the audience.' However, nothing could be farther from the truth, which is, 'the nepotistic gatekeepers won't let you shine."
"Girls who are new to the film industry are often promised the moon and the stars by the so-called casting coordinators. They simply intend to trap these upcoming starlets and serve them as prey to the lecherous men waiting to net them. There are many cases of talented actors who were initially supposed to be cast, but at last, get replaced by the 'star kids' from the infamous Bollywood camps. These purported 'hotshots' block other actors and stars, and hinder with their visibility. Their modus operandi is - stay relevant by blocking other talents. Does the audience really want to watch the star kids? Is it the result of collusion between the protégé and the decision-maker?" the filmmaker said.
A small-town girl named Pushpa who idolised Madhuri Dixit, was often ridiculed for impersonating her style and mannerisms. During her audition, she was offered roles in return for pleasures of the flesh, which she would blatantly turn down. With tears in her eyes, every next day, with new and rejuvenated fervour, she would go back to the production houses.
The filmmaker disclosed, "Real talent doesn't even get finance. Actually 'the powers that be' are in the process to destroy the talent, they put up a front that they strive to provide opportunities for the very people that they intend to destroy. At the most what they do to pacify these talented aspirants - give them insignificant roles. However, as soon as they see their potential to break the glass ceiling, they cut their roles and stop their chances of getting noticed. Despite the obstacles, if a talent still manages to reach the top, they would spread lies; that the actor chanced upon a good opportunity but didn't have the spark to make it big. They make these talents feel worthless about themselves. After demoralizing the artists and obliterating their confidence, they send them back home in despair."
EXPOSING NEPOTISM IN THE WORKPLACE
If your accomplishments are not recognized, you're being disciplined too harshly, or you're not getting a chance for opportunities, you are most likely facing discrimination. Such practices hinder your ability to climb the career ladder in your workplace and can stunt your career growth. There are ways to call out nepotism in the workplace. Here are a couple of tips to follow.
• Gather your co-worker's experiences and impressions: It's best to intertwine other cases of nepotism in the workplace into the conversation and ask probing questions regarding workplace happiness, workload, and treatment from superiors.
• Prepare for a possible backlash: Remember that this would make you a whistleblower, which could make you a target for extra scrutiny. And so, you must ensure that there are no loose ends on your part.
"As tough as it may be in Bollywood, it's very important to call out nepotism in the workplace. You are calling out discrimination, which negatively impacts morale, work performance, and relationships amongst the fraternity. It may not be an easy step to take, but it will make you a braver and more confident person for standing up for what's right and fighting for others," the filmmaker concluded.
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