Heritage Album

Is hiring a family member a bad idea?

Here is a scenario: Father asks son to serve as marketing manager for a franchise that he will be starting. The son does not have any degree. (He was kicked out of a 4 year university for drinking over spring break and never transferred or completed any type of degree some four years later.) However, he will receive 2 weeks training, is intelligent, and always has been a gifted salesman with a silver tongue and good looks. However, the son has always worked a series of minimum wage jobs or just above-minimum wage jobs that he acquired through family connections. He sometimes has issues with authority and sometimes has resented his father for telling him to do something and likes to be the center of attention. He doesn't like making major decisions and will defer it to a manager but he likes to have the power to make the decisions. He manages his budget well enough but has made some purchases that weren't required while ignoring the things of substance he NEEDS to buy. He centers on the claim that he "just wants to be happy" and it doesn't matter if he drives a lexus. However, he expresses envy for others that appear to have more than he has; and will bad mouth others when they are not in hearing distance. He is self-admittedly lazy and doesn't take care of his house or keep his car clean. He works 38 hours a week and is stressed and tired at the end of it. He is easily distracted by video games and likes to play them in his down time. However, he is excited about this business venture, is eager to be a part of it, and has indicated that he is willing to use his car (he has an excellent driving record) to be on call and that he understands it can be 80 hours a week initially. He is under the understanding that this business will be passed down to him in time. Will hiring him help him develop the maturity and business sense/professionalism that he seems to be lacking? Is it helpful that he will have a stake in the business? Or in 6 months will he be bored, disenchanted and not willing to tow the line?

Public Comments

1. Sounds risky. Son is not that stable so far. He might be motivated and have grown up enough to buckle down, but it's open to question. Two weeks training is what you give a new salesman, not a manager. (You don't say how technically demanding this particular sales department will be. Is he just managing a sales staff, or will he have to organize sales and pricing strategies, advertising and or promotions. Those can take some serious schooling, even to research properly.) Even if he is strongly enough motivated, he might 'crash & burn' if the job proves too much. Can 'Dad' provide an able assistant to both back 'Son' up and protect the family investment at need?
2. A lot of times it can be a rough situation to work with family. I know I could work with mine if necessary. However, this young man may take extra pride in doing good work since he knows that it could be his when his father decides to call it a career. A lot of communication needs to be had prior to him starting and he needs to know where the lines are.