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Here's a tricky one: would you hire a family member say, your SISTER, as your administrative assistant?

Please share your good/bad experiences or any other thoughts...

Posted by Odelia Aminov on 05/07/2008 09:44 PM

6 Comments on Here's a tricky one: would you hire a family member say, your SISTER, as your administrative assistant?

MAY

2008

Let me ask it a different way... Would you FIRE a family member from being your Admin if she did a less than adequate job?

If so, would Mom let you live it down? How about Sis? Some great businesses have family members in key roles, but the thing that you have to keep in mind is the exit strategy if it goes south.

No, no, and no. My family dynamic may be very different from yours so please consider that in my answer. I have two sisters and they both worked for me at one time or another. Not a good idea! If they are older they probably think they know more. If they are younger you may want to 'help' them too much. I hope this helps some. Please do not give your sister my email address!

Actually Odelia - I hired my ex sister-in-law as an assistant and I wouldn't change it for the world. She knows "ME". She knows that I am stubborn and a wee-bit "OCD" in nature - someone unfamiliar wouldn't have that insight & would most likely see it a different way.

PS. I would have no problem firing my sis-in-law and she knows it lol. I think there are definitely pro's and con's to it. The pro's being that you know eachother's "Natures" and can interact without worrying about offending the other. The Con's would be that you still have to be a part of eachother's lives - even if things go sour. So ... while it may not be for everybody, I love it.

If I had a sister the answer is NO WAY! Kinda like lending money to friends; usually never works out. I do have a younger brother and the answer is NO WAY!

Odelia, you are running a business and must always treat it that way. As a business owner you should want the best people working for you. If you truly believe that your sister is the best person for the job, hire her. However, if you are doing it to help her, to save money, or because 'it might be fun' you should definitely look elsewhere.

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