Saturday, December 17, 2011

Should I hire family?

That question always weighs on my mind. As a business owner, I figured it would be best to hire family for a number of reasons and Im learning now its not such a good idea.

I have not 'hired' anyone officially but my kids 'work' for me when I need help. I even get my mother here to help me out! Its free labor I call it, but they do expect something. Most of the time I buy them lunch. Its not like they are doing a job for me, they call it hanging out. The may run around or give me tips or make a trip to the post office. I dont give them 'official job'. Sometimes when Im away they may open the store and ring up sales, or help with my online store.

The good things about it:

I dont pay them and I know they would help me out if I asked.

The bad things:

They dont like working for free, the do huff and puff when I ask them to help me out, they really do a lousy job, and they do the bare minimum!

I had to go away and I couldnt get anyone to open the store for me so I had to be closed for a few days, it really sucked and hurt my bottom line. I should have hired someone for that.

Family came in and packed and shipped my online orders and they didnt do it with 'care'. So I had a few items damaged along the way, which ended up costing me more money. Maybe I should have just closed the online stores during that week but with the store closed I needed something operating.

Nothing bothers me more then the huffing and puffing. When they do this I just dont want to ask them at all and I know its their way of saying they dont want to. When they do this they usually call me the whole time they are at the store 'working' with questions. Its not a hard 'job' but it takes thought and working the bare minimum wont work here.

I had someone walk in to my store asking if I was hiring and I said not right now. He left and bumped into one of my kids, and they told this person ' oh my mom would hire me first." I was shocked and I said no way!

So tossing the idea of hiring someone, Id have to write a description of the job, figure out rate of pay, hours needed, can this person be trusted.. you get the idea.

I know when I seriously hire someone it wont be family.

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