Am I the only one wrestling with whether to get family involved in the shop?

I work at a busy auto repair place and my cousin keeps asking for a job. Part of me wants to help him out because family should stick together. But I also worry it could mess things up if he doesn't pull his weight or if we argue. I've heard stories where hiring a relative ruined the work vibe and even split families apart. On the flip side, having someone you trust on the team can be a huge plus. How do you all handle this? Is bringing family into the business a smart move or a recipe for trouble?

3 comments

3 Comments

adams.ivan1mo ago

Ever been in a spot where helping family could backfire? That's a tough call, man.

ward.emery1mo ago

Helping family could backfire? That's a hard pill to swallow.

caseyl181mo ago

Helping family can definitely get messy, but calling it a "backfire" feels a bit off, @adams.ivan. It makes it sound like a trap they set, you know? Most of the time, family isn't trying to cause problems. The risk is more about creating weird expectations or hurting the relationship if things go wrong. It's less about them sabotaging you and more about how complicated these situations can get. You just have to be really clear about what you can and can't do from the start.