Holly Willoughby has recently come out with a statement that has absolutely unimpressed the nation; one full of overly deep breathes, GCSE Drama level acting and a very overplayed persona of innocence. Meanwhile, Phillip Schofield sits hunched over his phone, begging for her forgiveness only to be met with a thrilling Read receipt.
For those of you who haven’t heard of the absolute debauchery taking place on British Television, let us run you through it real quick; two best-friends-practically-family, one talk show, one shunned host and another guilty of association, a shocking love affair and a nation divided under its scandal; this is the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby outrage, everybody.
Now, Schofield has left This Morning and Holly is under fire for ‘knowing all along’ (did we mention Phillip’s forbidden love is someone of a much younger age?), prompting her to come out with a statement that- again- consisted of too heavy a dramatic sigh and convinced nobody but the people who wanted to believe it.
Of course, for those of us in the convenience retail sector, we know very well what it’s like to work with family members; moreso, we’re aware of the implications that come from mixing that tight bond with business.
According to ACS’ 2022 Local Shop Report, around 40% of retailers employ at least one family member, with family-owned convenience stores often being notorious in the field.
So why is it then, that family can still work together without needing a ingenuine public apology whenever something goes wrong? (Sorry not sorry, Willoughby).
The answer comes from a few different things, and we at C-Talk find it vital that everyone working with family in the field become aware of them; both for business and family’s sake.
It’s a big help within a convenience store to clearly define your roles; making sure that everyone is on the same page aids in the absence of miscommunication greatly, as expectations and responsibilities have a smaller chance of being forgotten if they’ve been talked about beforehand.
Be clear, concise and don’t be afraid to take on the leadership role when need be; family decisions can be major, but if everybody’s in a constant state of uhm-ing and ahh-ing, very little will be done (we’re looking at you, ITV).
Ensure that everyone plays to their strengths, and don’t be afraid to designate someone better with numbers on the finance side, whereas someone more comfortable with organisation can handle deliveries.
When family are also employees, it may be especially difficult not to play favourites; after all, you know them the most and know a lot of what goes on in their life, so you may be entitled to care or want to protect them more (up until the slander starts to go your way and it’s time to throw them under the very bus you were a passenger of- again, sorry not sorry, Willoughby).
It’s important not to award special treatment just-because; carry the same energy that you have for that family member, all across the board; from your delivery drivers to the rest of your staff on the shop floor.
Not only does this create trust within the establishment, but it also shows that everything is fair amongst all workers involved. It sets a good example as well as a level of professionalism that should be expected off of everybody else.
Last but certainly not least, let us remember that it’s important to take time to be a family; when you take work out of the shop and into your household is when lines are blurred, making it even more difficult to separate work from home.
Know that you are a family first, business partner/co-workers second. Managing a store is important, but you must also learn to manage your family life with just as much urgency.
This Holly-Phillip scandal has been a truly tumultuous ride, but we’re glad that it’s helped us shed light on the notion of working with somebody so near and dear to you- and the mess that can come of it when something goes wrong.
However, let us not follow in the footsteps of This Morning’s most catastrophic co-workers and do better; remember, a consistent, open line of communication helps to make sure that a business runs smoothly- no begging for forgiveness over text here, not at all!
