We all want our family members to succeed in their careers. But what if you could hire a family member helping her career?
If your relative asks for a job, what should you consider before saying ‘yes’?
Are they qualified?
Take a close look at your relative’s qualifications. Do they match up with the job you are looking to fill? Mark Franklin is a career coach with Career Cycles in Toronto. Related or not, job candidates should all be held to the same standard, he says. Failing to do this means you are setting your company up to lose by hiring the wrong person.
Clear job description
A relative might come to you because you two have a great relationship and they like being around you. That may not be enough to get the job done, even if they are qualified for it. Make sure your relative has a clear understanding of the responsibilities for the job. Franklin says this starts with the job posting. “The expectations should be clear.”
Know your rights
There is nothing under the Human Rights Code that bars you from hiring your immediate family. That includes, a parent, spouse or child, even if they are under- or unqualified. But, according to Toronto-based employment lawyer Lisa Stam, company policy might be different. “In a corporate environment there are often anti-nepotism policies. However, this is not the case if you are the owner.
Deal with issues right away
Franklin says it’s important to deal with any problems as they come up, even quicker than you might deal with other employees. Because you have a personal connection there is more at stake. If you have to part ways with a relative, be sure to treat them fairly. Stam says often relatives can be harder on each other in business because emotions are involved. “In some circumstances I have seen that they’re so angry with each other because there is that personal connection that they want to give far less, as a termination provision package, then they would to someone who was not a family member.” Both experts say if you hire a relative and it’s not working out, deal with it.
See the bright side
There are pros to hiring a family member, especially if you run a small business. Franklin says hiring a family member can give employees confidence that their job is safe. “People want a sense of stability in their company and ongoing leadership and sometimes another family member can represent an ongoing succession plan that actually gives everyone a sense of stability and confidence.” Hiring a family may actually be good for business.
