For centuries, children often followed in the footsteps of their parents when entering the workforce. If your father was a farmer or a blacksmith or a fisherman, that is what you were taught, and that was what you were likely to also do when you came of age. The same holds true to some extent today.
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Following the Family Career Path
According to an article in The New York Times, it’s still common for children to follow the paths of their parents in many fields, particularly textile machine operators, fishers, and a variety of factory and industrial jobs.
That trend may be even more likely when the parent is the owner of his or her own business. It’s very common for business owners to hire their family members to help with the business. Often, this comes with an expectation that they will one day take the reins.
Pulling Friends Into the Mix
In an article for Entrepreneur, Doug and Polly White note that current economic conditions make it more and more likely that business owners will bring friends into the family mix, as well. “The ever-decreasing labor market … causes many entrepreneurs to hire friends and family,” they write. “That’s an easier choice than navigating the labor market for new hires; and the business owner knows and feels comfortable with these people.” The Whites also note that there is satisfaction in being able to provide employment opportunities to those close to us.
Hiring those in our inner circle has been common for hundreds—even thousands—of years. It’s only natural to want to help provide for those close to us, to want to groom the next generation of the business’s leadership from among our inner circle, and to put trust in people we already know and have a relationship with. But these work relationships don’t always work out well.
In two follow-up posts, we’ll discuss why these relationships don’t always turn out well, and we’ll offer some tips on how to make them as successful as possible if you do decide to go that route.