Red flags turn full-blown blaring sirens on employee’s first day at business claiming to be family, advised to run for his life: ‘Get out of there’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Dec 21, 2024 9:00 AM EST

Desmond Tutu once said: "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." what you can do though, at least to some extent, is choose your workplace. This (together with a lesson about ignoring red flags) is what this story is all about.

The original poster (OP) of this story posted on Reddit a while ago, He was asking Redditors why it is a red flag when a hiring team member tells a job applicant that the "company is like family." he ended up taking the job that made him post the question and his first day on the job transformed the "we're a family" red flag into full-fledged blaring sirens.

He only gave a couple of examples, and those were enough for the comment section to announce a unanimous decision. RUN!

I personally wouldn't know anything about it. To me, my boss is like a father, mother, and mentor (hi John. luv ya! You were hilarious at lunch BTW) combined. I love him and all my other relatives/coworkers so much because our relationship is truly too significant and meaningful to be called a friendship, it is much more - It's really like a home away from home here at the office. And I cherish and appreciate it every single day.

Scroll through this unfortunate (unlike me, thank you for everything John) and obviously super rare story of a workplace being toxic.

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  • 01
    "Run. If they say they are a family, it's a guaranteed dumpster fire."
    via Yan Krukau
  • 02
    First Day Working At " We are a Family Company"
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 03
    I posted a few weeks ago asking why "we are a family is a red flag" in an interview.
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 04
    Here a few things I found at the office that said this.
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 05
    The office didn't have a break room or kitchen area. The team lead said people basically eat at their desk.
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 06
    I noticed my team didn't take a break the entire day and didn't mention when I could take my break (I had to ask
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 07
    when I could take mine) she gave me a bit of training at the start of the day and then didn't check in
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 08
    with me until I asked questions, then a minute before I'm supposed to leave, she starts advising
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 09
    me about stuff to look out for the next day. When I left she was still at her computer.
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 10
    The company wants people to install an app on their phone to take client calls on their own phone.
    via One-Assignment5590
  • 11
    coffeebetterthannone • 16h ago I'm a family member that works at a family-owned business. GTFO as soon as you can.
    via coffeebetterthannone
  • 12
    • RSC2337 17h ago Run. The last company worked for was literally a family business. More than half the employees were NOT family but the owners
    via RSC2337
  • 13
    loved saying that they treated us like family. Fits of rage, jealously, indifference, etc were show just like in a real family. There were favorites, those being actual
    via RSC2337
  • 14
    family members. Breaks were not encourage. Training was half a day your first day. Expected to attend any and all after hour events.
    via RSC2337
  • 15
    Run. If they say they are a family, it's a guaranteed dumpster fire.
    via RSC2337
  • 16
    Independent-Win9088 • 12h ago • My "family owned" company also included all of these things, and the husband and wife having screaming matches with each other behind a not so soundproof door. TOXIC AF
    via Independent-Win9088
  • 17
    III Quit2345 17h ago Nope, if they want you to install an app to take calls on your personal phone, they better be contributing to your cell plan or paying you hourly for every call you take after hours.
    via III_Quit2345
  • 18
    I see a lot of red flags just with the lack of break room - it's almost like you don't get a break and work while you force your lunch down. Also, advising you about
    via III_Quit2345
  • 19
    tomorrow at the end of the day (while clocking out) is wild and is a big warning they don't value your time and or outside work commitments.
    via III_Quit2345
  • 20
    'd keep looking for a new job and hold this one until you can get out. If you interview elsewhere and they ask what you are currently doing, just say it is
    via III_Quit2345
  • 21
    a confidential contract temp gig. It shows you are still working, but they won't press for employment verification. Best of luck and if you are seeing the
    via III_Quit2345
  • 22
    constant red flags write them down and keep records. I am almost inclined to say if and when you jump ship they may try to withhold your last check.
    via III_Quit2345
  • 23
    Brendanish ⚫17h ago Sorry bud, I hate that corpos took this slogan and ab e it. I've had bosses invite me to dinner. I've seen my dad get a $3 raise conveniently
    via Brendanish
  • 24
    after getting into a car crash that mur ed his insurance rates. Even after I left my company, the boss kept up with me.
    via Brendanish
  • 25
    Those are "we're a family" businesses, but a bunch of stuffy losers saw small businesses saying it and knew it was an invite. Now it's so bad you hear the phrase and run.
    via Brendanish
  • 26
    Fragrant Spray • 13h ago In my experience, "We are a family" often means that rules are often unwritten, made up on the spot, or selectively enforced.
    via Fragrant_Spray
  • 27
    Processes are informal and poorly communicated. People tend to be rewarded for arbitrary reasons regardless of any established metrics. It
    via Fragrant_Spray
  • 28
    means they'll ask a lot of "we're a family, so you need to pick up the slack" from you, but will be "this is a business" when you want something from them. You're a "family" when it benefits management, but it's a "business" when it doesn't.
    via Fragrant_Spray

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