My 50 year old brother has just been given a Director's role at one of my Dad's businesses and I am fuming...! AIBU to be so cross??
The background: My brother is a software engineer and had a good job until 10 years ago when he decided to quit to start his own consultancy. His consultancy never actually resulted in ANY work and not a single client. He had ideas about programs he wanted to develop, and worked on things, but generally his consultancy was purely a tax write-off and a way for him to toodle around. This seemed to be a big driver in his successful wife leaving him (7 years ago). Since then he has spent his time embroiled in divorce proceedings and 'working on software ideas' spending all his savings, pension and regular handouts from my father. In the last few years my brother has reluctantly looked for employment and been offered some roles but none are 'good enough' for him as he expects a director or very senior level role despite his lack of recent experience and very poor interpersonal skills. Seriously. He has totally run out of money and even then turned down roles.
Enter my dad - he is a retired CEO who owns a number of companies and is a key shareholder in others. He has a business that he has sunk a huge amount of money into. The business is doing fine although the usual niggles. But it turns out he has made my brother the Director of Engineering and paying him a huge sum (6 figure salary) to 'fix' parts of the company. The company HQ is in Europe so my brother gets to work from home most of the time, get paid flights into the HQ and a flat to stay at. It is a sweet deal. Even if the company goes under (which it may very well do if my awkward brother pisses off all the other senior staff!) my brother will now be able to look for a job from a much more senior, active role. My brother has become all 'smug' about his new role - he's 'soooo busy' and there is 'so much that he needs to sort out that no one else can seem to fix'. Snort!
I KNOW, I KNOW.. I should be grateful that my father is in a position to help him 'get back on his feet' but, holy cow, I've been working FT for the last 20 years and I'm still not at a Director level! I don't want my Dad to help me in this way and I'm happy with my career but... AIBU to be pissed off about this? It's the old 'prodigal son' story I think!!
AIBU?
AIBU to be cross that my dad has given my 50 year-old deadbeat brother a job?
williaminajetfighter · 13/08/2014 21:00
Do you think your dad is actually starting to plan how he will retire and hence wants one of his family involved in at least one of his businesses? Since you're very settled in your sector, I guess the only other option is to start grooming your brother to take over iyswim.
Also if your dad is such a succesful businessman then I'd hope that if your db starts to piss people off, your ddad will suddenly find something else for him to do . . . in a different company . . .where he doesn't need to speak to people and your ddad's legacy isn't under threat 
I would be pissed off at the sexism too.
I'd also be pissed off at not being handed a six figure salary job. I've no interest in building my own empire. Far too much like hard work.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.