Woman Cut Off By Stepdaughter After Declining Her Request To Be Employed In Her Fashion Company
"She’s a good stylist but not a good designer."
A 28-year-old woman tried to grow her fashion company, and it turned into a family drama the minute her stepdaughter, Mia, asked to get hired.
Here’s the messy part: OP planned expansion by bringing in other young designers, but she has strict criteria for who gets accepted. Mia has wanted this for years, and OP still refused, saying Mia lacks the skills to meet the designer requirements. Even her workaround, “she can be a stylist,” did not land, because Mia wanted a designer position inside OP’s company.
And once the OP explained how her designers hire their own teams, the real question became: was this about opportunity, or about entitlement?
The OP writes
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692Part of OP's expansion plan was to hire other young designers
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692Professional Boundaries in Family Relationships
A study from the Journal of Organizational Behavior explains that mixing family and work can complicate relationships and lead to conflicts.
In this case, declining a family member's request for employment can be viewed as a boundary-setting action that, while necessary, may also cause emotional fallout.
She still hasn’t got the skills at least to meet OP's criteria
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
And the comments roll in, in their thousands
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
OP’s expansion plan sounds normal on paper, but Mia’s request to jump straight into a designer role turns it into a family power struggle fast.
OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:
1. I didn’t accept my stepdaughter Mia in my company 2. Being a fashion designer has been her dream for so long, and she wanted me to give her an opportunity
It's not going to happen
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
She can be a stylist instead of a designer
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
When the OP says Mia can be a stylist instead of a designer, the whole debate shifts from dreams to whether Mia can actually sell and perform.
This is similar to the fight between sisters, where one refused to repay the sister’s loan to protect her business.
Should I Repay My Sisters Loan or Save My Business? AITA?Creating written agreements that outline responsibilities and performance criteria can minimize emotional conflicts.
She sounds very entitled
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
Getting rejected must sting so bad
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
The OP’s comment about designers bringing their own staff is where everyone starts side-eyeing the “just let her in” argument.
The OP left this in the comments
She can be a stylist for a certain designer. But I made a rule that designers who get accepted get to hire their own staff, and most of the designers I have already brought in had stylists and even models before.She could definitely apply, but I can’t force her on any designer. She’s a pretty good stylist, though; as I said, designers already come in with their own team, so they already have a stylist they are used to.
Connection means nothing without skills
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
The OP shouldn't risk her professional reputation
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
By the time the comments pile up, OP’s refusal to “force” Mia onto any designer has everyone wondering if this cut-off was predictable or just cruel.
Some companies will concentrate on the hiring process and enhance their recruitment techniques by resolving to hire only the top candidates. More significantly, exceptional talent aspires to work only with the best in order to further hone their craft.
OP states that the job thrives purely on skills, so even if she included her stepdaughter, she wouldn’t make money because she wouldn’t sell. Eventually, the OP was declared not the AH.
The OP handled it terribly
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
The OP left this update to answer some frequent questions
Reddit/NervousCheesecake692
The situation described highlights the intricate dynamics of family relationships within a professional context, particularly as seen in the case of a woman who faced estrangement from her stepdaughter after declining her request for employment. Without these elements, the potential for conflict can overshadow the professional environment, leading to personal rifts that could have long-lasting repercussions.
In this case, prioritizing professional integrity not only serves the business's interests but could also reinforce the familial ties that are at risk. By fostering a culture of respect for professional roles, family members can navigate their relationships more effectively, ensuring that business decisions do not compromise personal connections.
The family didn’t lose a job offer, they lost the one thing OP was protecting, her company’s standards.
Wondering where to draw the line, check out what happened when a friend ignored advice and still asked for support. Should I Support My Friends Failing Business Despite Ignored Advice?
