husband/wife employees a good idea? thoughts please.

[alfredauto]

My lead tech has been with me 5 years, he is a valuable employee. I'm looking to hire a full time service advisor, and he suggested his wife. She is super nice and has retail customer service experience so she can definitely be taught the job. She makes little at her job which is why she's looking for a better job. I worry about the dynamics of it all. I'm afraid if either one needs to go I'll lose both my employees. On the other hand, they can probably work together better than 2 strangers could. I'm not overly concerned with theft issues, they are both trustworthy. What do you think? Good idea or fuggetaboutit?

[Bob K]

It would be a quick and painless way to hire someone for the position but you're hesitant for all the right reasons. For me it would be too risky. The only way it would be worth a try is if this couple were someone you were looking to sell your business to in the near future.

[lmcca]

i have a brother team going here, one is my service manager and the other is a tech. Dont really have too many problems but the tech gets ballsy sometimes. I even wrote him up recently for some things, but, the SM has been here 13 years and the tech 8 years, so i guess this scenario is working.

 

Basically it depends on the two you consider, if they have a good marriage then they probably will work out great. If you have other techs it maybe awkward when it comes to dispatching, the whole favoritism thing will be brought up. So you will have to do a little extra work in figuring out that side of it if she will be dispatching work or even if she is in charge when others are out for personal stuff.

[Mario]

Before I opened up, I always worked jobs with my brother and sister. We all 3 worked at the same gas station for over 7 years

[mmotley]

Bad idea

[KMS]

Really bad idea. You don't need any unnecessary conflict.

[UsedTireShop]

A successful Monday for you may depend on how their weekend went.

[Dad's Auto]

A simple thanks but no thanks.

[GeeZ]

Family is one thing but this situation is another. Don't do it. Kids are sick at home, one or both may not come in. They have a fight

at home then the business will suffer for it. The worst scenario is the conspire to steal from you.

 

Please don't do it.

[xrac]

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[Apluschuy]

Don't do it. You'll end up losing both.

[PAPShop]

When the marriage is going good, it will work. When the marriage is not going good, it won't work. My husband is the owner of our shop, and I am the office manager. It takes a very "special" marriage to be able to work together. It is especially difficult for most people to leave personal issues to home. Personally, I wouldn't have a married couple work for us. The other problem I see is, if they go on vacation, kids activities, serious illness, etc, you are out 2 people at the same time.

[flacvabeach]

Thomas Jefferson advised us to "avoid entangling alliances." When the time comes to let somebody go, I don't want to worry about whether it's going to destroy my working relationship with their spouse or their brother or their Dad. Keep it simple and professional.

[GeeZ]

  On 5/2/2015 at 1:32 PM, flacvabeach said:

Thomas Jefferson advised us to "avoid entangling alliances." When the time comes to let somebody go, I don't want to worry about whether it's going to destroy my working relationship with their spouse or their brother or their Dad. Keep it simple and professional.

Absolutely. Thanks for the history lesson.

[alfredauto]

Thanks for all the responses, ultimately the risk outweighs the reward. Someday my tech might own the shop when I retire, I'm sure they'll make a good team then.