Career Advancement in a Family-Owned French Construction Firm Under Changing Labor Legislation and Market Demand, 1946-1985. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonneuil, Noël; Martini, Manuela
• Is Part Of: Family business review. Volume 28:Number 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: internal labor market -- kinship -- seniority -- career advancement -- event history analysis; Family-owned business enterprises -- United States -- Periodicals; Home labor -- United States -- Periodicals; Small business -- United States -- Periodicals; New business enterprises -- United States -- Periodicals; 658.045
• DOI: 10.1177/0894486513500304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4865

Abstract

Personnel data from a small French construction firm's archives were followed up for 1946-1985 to examine family firm employment practices in historical perspective. The firm had limited scope to favor national origin, seniority, or kinship; kin of management were not paid more than nonkin. Event history analysis reveals macroeconomic context and individual qualification as the main variables explaining wage-level changes. The need to respond to market conditions and maintain good labor relations favored skill over seniority and kinship. Ultimately, however, family-style managerial practices failed to link wages to performance, compromising financial stability and contributing to the firm's demise.