Family Relationships at Work
Mix Business with pleasure? Employ your child/spouse? This is both common and indeed to be encouraged – but I must encourage you to do so properly!
Two recent court cases highlight the dangers of not doing so. One resulted in awards totalling over $100,000 because the employer let his personal feelings overflow into the employment relationship. The other employer had to pay lost wages and $10,000 in compensation because the courts were quite clear he was unable to make an unbiased judgement in relation to serious misconduct allegations he raised against his son in law.
While it might be tempting to agree with your family member that “she’ll be right” it is foolish not to have a written employment agreement or to take short cuts when managing employment relationship problems. Indeed it is best to get any performance/behavioural problem investigated independently. It may cost a little but it’s better than a court case! Talk to me if you need assistance.