Dear Ralph: Should I talk to the boss?

Dear Ralph,
             So I work at this firm in Lagos and the competition is really tight there. You know how hard it is to get a promotion at work. My family has been struggling and I have been really struggling to get an increase in my salary but it's always being turned down. Finally I spoke with the manager of my department and he said that he would help out but that usually the only way would be to see a steady increase in my productivity. Now here is the problem, the main bosses child works with us and he is really annoying. I don't know if  is also following me to struggle for raise in he's fathers company,
he doesn't know how to do anything and I believe that was why he's dad sent him here, to learn from the roots. The problem is that the things I do, he takes credit for them. He is already the bosses son and I don't see why he does what he does. I want to tell he's dad but the manager says that I am on my own, that reporting the boy might not be the wisest thing to do, because he's dad might sack me. I have tried to tell the boy to stop but he isn't stopping. I don't know the best way to approach this delicate situation, what do you think I should do?

                                                                                                                                                       Ade




Dear Ade,
         I think the problem with the son of your boss is that he is trying to impress he's father. This might be a problem from home and he's priority right now is that he wants to show he's father how capable he is of doing the job effectively. He might actually not even recognize how bad it is for every other person. It might just be fear of losing credibility and respect in he's fathers eyes.
   I wouldn't advice a direct approach to the boss of the place. Instead I would advice that you make the boy your friend and understand he's struggles. Let him tell you the challenges he is facing, then you can also tell him your own problems and the both of you can work things out together. If you can relate to the challenges he is facing with he's dad then you can help him through them and maybe give him tips on how to follow up he's dad. You might even get to teach him how to be able to do things on he's own and gain recognition genuinely from he's dad in the company. He won't forget you if he is a good person. Show him the ropes and basics in the company. Remember that tomorrow the company might be he's own and if you try to speak bad of him today, it might bounce back on you tomorrow. You might end up losing the job entirely. So just find out what he's problems are first and help him through them.
       If on the other hand he is simply trying to be mean to you then I think you should find out from him directly what the problem is, let him tell you why he is blocking your path and then you both can sort it out together. But if at the end of the day he just simply wants to torture someone and you happen to be the victim of this he's character then I would advice for the sake of your family, lay low and keep your head cool, keep managing for now until you find another job that would offer you better working conditions and pay. But I strongly advice you against reporting him to he's dad, I doubt it is going to end well.

Just try these things out first and get back to me. Take care for now and have a nice day Ade

                                                                                                                                                 Ralph