Should I hire a real good friend (who needs direction) into my very small company?

Question

i don't want to not help the guy, but don't want burn a bridge at the same time. mixing business w/ pleasure per say.

Answer 1

If he has qualities that can contribute to your company - go for it. If its just to give him a job, don't do it!

The company I work for is only family and friends of the owner. Though there are occasional awkward times, it works fairly well!

Answer 2

It is NEVER a good idea if you have any feeling about keeping him as a friend. I have known a number of people (and myself), who have hired a friend. Most of the time this never works out for the good. You need to let him know what he would have to do, along with what others have to do. You also have to point out that working with and for friends is not good. And that your first choose is not to hire him, because his friendship means more to you than a job. But if he still wants to try, you need to give him written direction and let him know that someone else (that works for you) will be his boss. This is the person who will train him, work with him, help him with problems on the job but most of all this will be the person who fires him if he is unable to do the job the way your company requires it. Good luck =)

Answer 3

You have very noble reasons for hiring the guy, but you are also aware of potential pitfalls. If it will work, great. But if not, then your years of friendship may be tarnished.

Ask yourself:

- What will be his contribution to your business? Is it clear between you and the person? Clear your expectations at this point

- Do you think he can and will do the work assigned to him? Or will he take your business for granted, since you're a friend anyway.

- Can you afford to hire him? More importantly, can you afford to hire him if he slackens in his job? What if he comes in late? Or what if there will be days when he won't show up for work? Afterall, you're his friend and friends try to understand each other. How do you think you will deal with it?

- This will be a shift in your relationship. From being a friend, you will now be a boss - his boss. How do you think he will respond to you giving him a to-do list? How do think he will respond when you check on his performance?

Answer 4

if you can't count on him to do a good job then no. Cause there will come a time when you will have to tell him he isn't doing a good job and he will probably take offense cause he is your friend. I think that friends will take advantage in situations like this because they are desperate. maybe you could help him find a job with something he is good at. don't let him know that you have an opportunity. Or if you think hiring will be okay then explain to him right off the bat that he can't let you down and that you put your neck out for him. It depends on your friend if he is real sensitive or understanding. Good Luck I hope you make the right decision!!

Answer 5

No. If you're not convinced that you're in business to make money, then read Atlas Shrugged. It's the only moral way to run the company. The virtue of adding your best value and allowing that very best to be traded on the open market opens doors, builds bridges, feeds families, develops new ideas and innovations, and moves the whole world along. Hiring someone other than the virtue of their commitment and talents corrupts your business, destroys your ultimate credibility, and keeps that person in denial of his or her real issues to face in life. That person can't move forward without first acknowledging where he/she is stuck.

Answer 6

Try to never hire a friend or a relative if you can help it. If you must, then hire him on s trial basis. You other employees will feel uncomfortable at first so let him know he will be expected to live up to the same standards as any other person you would employ - perhaps even exceed them. All personal relations should be confined to after work hours.

Answer 7

Danger-Danger...this is a very tight line to walk-
Friends come and go, but what remains constant is our own need to sustain-some make it, some don't-
Seems like we go thru life meeting/loosing friends for different reasons.......& which is more important to you.
To have a successfull small business you have had to make some decisions ....some people can't-
I've known many, long term friendships that have originated in the workplace-and as long as everyone involved knows there 'place-in-the-chain', so-to-speak...it all works.
It is really a trial-n'-error thing, depending on the personalities involved...and their motivation & commitment.

Answer 8

Tell him your concerns.

This is your livelihood.

You value his friendship. Ask if not hiring will hurt the friendship, or what happens, if you have to let him go.

If he seems equal to the other applicants, I'd give it a try. If someone else looked a lot better. He'd need to understand, it's business, not personal.

Answer 9

I made a mistake like that but the position was commision only. Your freinds will always take advantage with incomplete work, tardiness, etc. I don't even tell most of my friends that I'm even in business because even if they are a customer ... they will want special treatments and discounts which I can't always offer.

Answer 10

If he needs direction, he should check out programs like Vocational Rehabilitation. They could help him with job/ career choices.
If you are going for the 'short fix', and hire him, what would be the outcome of the friendship if you find out he can't do the job and you have to let him go.