Which practice involves hiring unqualified friends or family?

• A. Favoritism: Special Treatment for a Select Few
• B. Nepotism: Hiring Unqualified Friends or Family
• C. Taking Credit for Others' Results
• D. Inequality: Tolerating Toxic People, Who Are Often Highly Skilled, but Punishing Others

Answer: (B)

Nepotism is the practice of hiring unqualified friends or family, giving them jobs based on personal relationships rather than merit. This leads to the selection of people who may lack the necessary qualifications, which can undermine performance, erode trust, and reduce morale within the organization. That direct link to hiring relatives or close friends makes nepotism the best description for this scenario.

Other terms describe different behaviors: favoritism is broader special treatment for a select few, not necessarily related to relatives or qualifications; taking credit for others' results is about claiming work you didn’t do; and tolerating toxic people who are highly skilled but punishing others highlights unfair dynamics and toxicity rather than hiring relatives.