Comments on: Do Family Members Make Good Employees? http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/ Resources and Knowledge for the Small Business CEO Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:22:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Our Top 12 Articles From The Last 6 Months http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-6127 Our Top 12 Articles From The Last 6 Months Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:34:55 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-6127 [...] Do Family Members Make Good Employees? [...] […] Do Family Members Make Good Employees? […]

]]> By: Would Your Spouse Make A Good Business Partner? http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-6052 Would Your Spouse Make A Good Business Partner? Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:54:31 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-6052 [...] isn’t always the best choice.  I’ve asked for your opinions on such topics as “Do Family Members Make Good Employees?” and “Would Your Parent Make An Ideal Employee?”.  Now, I have one last thought [...] […] isn’t always the best choice.  I’ve asked for your opinions on such topics as “Do Family Members Make Good Employees?” and “Would Your Parent Make An Ideal Employee?”.  Now, I have one last thought […]

]]> By: Bill Campbell http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5318 Bill Campbell Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:47:49 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5318 It is common in the small business arena for family members to work together and you most you probably know, this is how a good amount of small businesses get started. I currently have family members as employees and I think as long as you set the stage in the begining and let them know its business and not personal, things have a better chance of working out. But even more critical is treating them equal to all other employees. It is common in the small business arena for family members to work together and you most you probably know, this is how a good amount of small businesses get started.

I currently have family members as employees and I think as long as you set the stage in the begining and let them know its business and not personal, things have a better chance of working out. But even more critical is treating them equal to all other employees.

]]> By: Martin Lindeskog http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5272 Martin Lindeskog Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:35:49 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5272 Chris, Thanks for sharing your experiences. I would be happy to work with / for a family owned business in America. My long-range plan is to return to the land of opportunity - the United States of America. I will celebrate Independence Day with fellow members of Vasa Order of America. It is a Swedish - American friendship society. Best Premises, Martin Lindeskog - American in Spirit. P.S. Did you check out Elliott Wave theory? Chris,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I would be happy to work with / for a family owned business in America. My long-range plan is to return to the land of opportunity - the United States of America.

I will celebrate Independence Day with fellow members of Vasa Order of America. It is a Swedish - American friendship society.

Best Premises,

Martin Lindeskog - American in Spirit.
P.S. Did you check out Elliott Wave theory?

]]> By: Chris http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5265 Chris Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:45:34 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5265 Martin, To answer your question (and I'm certainly no expert here) but in my opinion, it IS common for family members to work with one another in America. Many years ago, I worked for a small family owned and operated business and there were 4 employees out of 9 that were family. Some years after that, I again had another experience with a family owned and operated business - the founding members were father and son. So in my opinion and based on my personal experiences - this is commonplace here in the U.S. And as a side note, working for small family owned companies were some of the best employment experiences I've ever had. The atmosphere is a tight nit group and there is a general concern for one another within the group. Martin,
To answer your question (and I’m certainly no expert here) but in my opinion, it IS common for family members to work with one another in America. Many years ago, I worked for a small family owned and operated business and there were 4 employees out of 9 that were family. Some years after that, I again had another experience with a family owned and operated business - the founding members were father and son. So in my opinion and based on my personal experiences - this is commonplace here in the U.S. And as a side note, working for small family owned companies were some of the best employment experiences I’ve ever had. The atmosphere is a tight nit group and there is a general concern for one another within the group.

]]> By: Martin Lindeskog http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5258 Martin Lindeskog Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:15:51 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5258 Ben, Thanks for your feedback on my comment. I worked for a family owned company for many years, and I saw evidence of nepotism. But on the other hand, Anita has a good point that you could have a basic trust level if you start working with family members. In the case of the company I worked for, sometime I saw that the family members didn't think long-range and they were caught up with family matters instead of the business. But as a closing note, I am must say that I was glad to work at a family owned company. It had a nice atmosphere, short decision lines, and some kind of nice feeling over the work place. Is it common in America with family members and relatives working together? Ben,

Thanks for your feedback on my comment. I worked for a family owned company for many years, and I saw evidence of nepotism. But on the other hand, Anita has a good point that you could have a basic trust level if you start working with family members. In the case of the company I worked for, sometime I saw that the family members didn’t think long-range and they were caught up with family matters instead of the business. But as a closing note, I am must say that I was glad to work at a family owned company. It had a nice atmosphere, short decision lines, and some kind of nice feeling over the work place.

Is it common in America with family members and relatives working together?

]]> By: Ben Jones http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5255 Ben Jones Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:41:52 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5255 I think Martin's comments were very insightful. It is important to think about how it could affect the relationship between you and the family member, and also how it could effect morale. The way other employees will feel is definitely something to take into consideration. You can offset the suspicions of special treatment by being very fair and open but at some point, no matter what you do, you'll probably be accused of playing favorites. I think Martin’s comments were very insightful. It is important to think about how it could affect the relationship between you and the family member, and also how it could effect morale. The way other employees will feel is definitely something to take into consideration. You can offset the suspicions of special treatment by being very fair and open but at some point, no matter what you do, you’ll probably be accused of playing favorites.

]]> By: Anita Campbell http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5235 Anita Campbell Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:16:23 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5235 I tend toward wanting to hire family members because I feel I can trust them. They're more likely to care about the business, too. I tend toward wanting to hire family members because I feel I can trust them. They’re more likely to care about the business, too.

]]> By: Chris http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5221 Chris Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:03:58 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5221 To hire someone simply because they are family and not consider their skills when doing so could be detrimental to your company. If they don't have a good work ethic to begin with, how will employment with you change that? If they are qualified, skilled employees - I think it can really be very beneficial. However, if they don't answer the telephones like they should and sit around eating crackers all day. . .no reason to keep them around simply because they're family. Besides, anyone who would take advantage of a family member like that doesn't deserve the position anyway. To hire someone simply because they are family and not consider their skills when doing so could be detrimental to your company. If they don’t have a good work ethic to begin with, how will employment with you change that? If they are qualified, skilled employees - I think it can really be very beneficial. However, if they don’t answer the telephones like they should and sit around eating crackers all day. . .no reason to keep them around simply because they’re family. Besides, anyone who would take advantage of a family member like that doesn’t deserve the position anyway.

]]> By: Martin Lindeskog http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5219 Martin Lindeskog Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:26:08 +0000 http://www.smbceo.com/2008/06/19/do-family-members-make-good-employees/#comment-5219 If you want the hiring process to be a success, you better do some introspection first. Do I want to potentially harm a relationship with a relative? How would the other co-workers look at the situation? Could it been seen as nepotism? (It is called "brother-in-law" politics in Swedish.) If you want the hiring process to be a success, you better do some introspection first. Do I want to potentially harm a relationship with a relative? How would the other co-workers look at the situation? Could it been seen as nepotism? (It is called “brother-in-law” politics in Swedish.)

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