Working with a family member can be enjoyable and fulfilling. You know them well, and more than likely you are aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses. And, if you are even considering hiring this person, the trust factor is already higher.
Let’s be honest, hiring a spouse or another close family member can be a seemingly easy fix to your practice’s staffing needs. Hiring on (or considering hiring on) family members is very common within many practices – especially for administrative roles, such as Office Manager.
However, while situations differ from practice to practice, it’s more than just a good idea to make sure you weigh all of the following factors when hiring a family member:
So what can you do to avoid these familial employee pitfalls?
Simply being aware of, and carefully considering the above points will help. However, you must set aside the time to sit down with the family member and communicate these concerns, as well as develop clear boundaries and expectations. Doing so will help sharpen those fuzzy lines, and avoid potential misunderstandings.