Problems With Hiring Relatives

• Special considerations need to be taken when having family members work for you. Paper Boat Creative/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Hiring a relative to work for you might seem like a win-win situation. This is especially true if your family members are qualified candidates or could bring marketable skills to your business. However, having a family member work FOR you is different than having them work WITH you. You must keep realistic considerations in mind when having family help with a home business or other job.

Being Taken Advantage Of

• Family members might use your relationship to take advantage at work. sisters image by Kurhan from Fotolia.com

  Hiring a family member can be a definite asset to your business--until your family member needs the day off (again) or has to come in late (again). Other family members may expect premium assignments or special perks. Family members may think they have the right to take advantage of company policies or bend the rules since you are the boss, according to Business Knowledge Source.com. This can negatively affect your standing with the company (if you don't own the business) or with other employees.

Taking Issues to Work (or Home)

• Family feuds can translate into workplace drama. fighting girls image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com

  Every family has problems. Every workplace has issues. People usually try to keep work and family problems separate. However, this becomes tricky when you work with family. An early morning fight can turn into passive-aggressive behavior at the office or vice-versa. You may find yourself talking about job problems at home, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Constant picking or nagging with a family member might negatively affect job performance by both parties, causing your business to suffer.

To Discipline or Not?

• Disicpline is part of the workplace, even for family members. Business woman expresses her anger while on her cell phone. image by Andy Dean from Fotolia.com

  Bosses and supervisors are responsible for disciplining employees, including employees who are family members. You may feel uncomfortable writing up or confronting negative behavior from a family member at work. Letting negative behavior slide until it becomes unmanageable and affects job performance for you and other employees will lead to bigger workplace problems and possible resentment from others (or disciplinary action against you).

Favoritism

• Avoid playing favorites with family members at work. young happy attractive smiling couple hugging image by asiana from Fotolia.com

  Simply hiring a family member might be portrayed as favoritism to other employees. Showing preference to a family member can foster resentment in the workplace to both you and the family member. Do not give special assignments or attentions to a family member on the job; he should be treated the same as every other employee, reports Business Knowledge Resource. If you decide to hire a family member, confirm that he is well-qualified and understands all the job responsibilities to avoid any controversy in the workplace.