Rudolph’s never going to get a very shiny new role in Santa’s family firm | Torsten Bell

Workers in family-run businesses earn less on average and have fewer opportunities to progress into senior jobs

Santa has a great reputation. Generous, jolly, snazzily dressed. But he’s obviously a terrible employer. The elves are entirely unpaid for their gruelling manual labour. Their fixed smiles and constant singing are evidence of a culture of fear. Does anyone believe he’s keeping the Lapland workplace temperature above the Health and Safety Executive’s 16C minimum? And the reindeer’s 24-hour shift this week will be a clear breach of the working time directive.

The complete lack of progression (not to mention a highly segregated workforce) is another warning sign. Everyone has been doing the same job for centuries – which works for Santa at the top, but means few opportunities for others to move on up.