Julie Sykes, of Huddersfield based HR consultancy JCS HR, explains why it can be helpful to bring in an external resource when dealing with staffing issues relating to family members or close friends. “Dealing with staffing issues can be difficult at the best of times, but it can become much more sensitive when the problem involves a family member or close friend – a situation that arises most often in family run businesses. Difficult issues such as under-performance, discipline or redundancy have to be tackled – but you can find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Dealing with these things can result in bad feeling within the family, but not dealing with things can lead to bad feeling amongst the rest of the workforce. The understandable reluctance to take ‘formal’ action, which might cause family upset, often results in matters getting to a far worse state before being tackled, than they would if there was no family involvement. By the time a company decides they have no alternative other than to tackle things, the situation has often reached breaking point – or very close to it. This is a situation I have been asked to help with on several occasions (example cases outlined below). Using external and independent advice can remove a lot of the difficulties that are found in these situations. I would always advise caution in employing close family and friends – it is essential to ensure that they are the right person for the role and that you set very clear boundaries and expectations at the outset of employment. Although it may be difficult at the time, it is easier to explain to someone why you can’t employ them – for example, because they don’t have the right skills or experience – than it is to deal with issues further down the line.”

1. How to Deal with Difficult People Issues in a Family Business
Julie Sykes, of Huddersfield based HR consultancy JCS HR, explains why it can be helpful to bring in an
external resource when dealing with staffing issues relating to family members or close friends.
“Dealing with staffing issues can be difficult at the best of times, but it can become much more sensitive
when the problem involves a family member or close friend – a situation that arises most often in family
run businesses. Difficult issues such as under-performance, discipline or redundancy have to be tackled –
but you can find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Dealing with these things can result in bad feeling within the family, but not dealing with things can lead
to bad feeling amongst the rest of the workforce.
The understandable reluctance to take ‘formal’ action, which might cause family upset, often results in
matters getting to a far worse state before being tackled, than they would if there was no family
involvement. By the time a company decides they have no alternative other than to tackle things, the
situation has often reached breaking point – or very close to it.
This is a situation I have been asked to help with on several occasions (example cases outlined below).
Using external and independent advice can remove a lot of the difficulties that are found in these
situations. The benefits can include:
•
A totally objective view of the situation
•
High quality professional advice
•
No ‘emotional’ involvement in the situation
•
Action based on the facts alone – no personal ties to any of the individuals involved
•
The possibility of a wider range of options being available – based on the experience of the
advisor
I would always advise caution in employing close family and friends – it is essential to ensure that they are
the right person for the role and that you set very clear boundaries and expectations at the outset of
employment.
Although it may be difficult at the time, it is easier to explain to someone why you can’t employ them –
for example, because they don’t have the right skills or experience – than it is to deal with issues further
down the line.”
For media information please contact Jenny Green @ Smart Arts on
07545 696713 / 01484 685544 or
email jenny@smartarts.co.uk

2. Example Cases
1. JCS HR was called into a local family firm who had a serious disciplinary issue involving the nephew of
one of the Directors. The issue was potentially one of gross misconduct and therefore potentially
dismissable – part of the problem was that, because this employee was a family member, he had been
allowed to get away with things in the past and had continually pushed the boundaries of what was
acceptable.
On this occasion he had gone too far and something had to be done. Taking that decision was difficult
enough because when not used to dealing with disciplinary issues – particularly serious ones – small
companies often don’t know how to start. However, the Directors also faced added pressure being
brought to bear by other family members who weren’t involved in the business, and who felt that what
they were planning to do was totally unacceptable because it involved such a close family member.
Eventually the Directors concluded that they could not deal with the matter objectively because of the
circumstances, and the stress and emotion of the situation became too much. They therefore asked me
to come in and handle it on their behalf. This ensured it was handled well and they could ‘justify’ to their
family whatever sanction was taken, because it had not been decided by them, but by someone with
no personal involvement at all.
2. JCS HR was called into a small family firm to support one of the Directors who was dealing with a
disciplinary situation involving his son. The evidence supported the allegation that the son had been
stealing from the company for a period of time.
Whilst the Director was clear what had to be done, it was a very emotional situation and he found it very
helpful to have an external, independent person supporting him. I was able to look at things objectively
and to support him through some of the very emotional parts of the process.
If you require assistance with staffing issues please contact Julie Sykes on 01484 602708.
For more information on JCS HR visit http://www.jcs-hr.co.uk or call 01484 602708. You can also follow
Julie at http://www.twitter.com/@HRJulie.
-endsFor media information please contact Jenny Green @ Smart Arts on
07545 696713 / 01484 685544 or
email jenny@smartarts.co.uk

3. Notes to editors:
•
Julie Sykes has worked in the human resources industry for 25 years and celebrated 10 years
running her own consultancy in 2012.
•
JCS HR Consulting is based in Huddersfield and services Yorkshire and Manchester areas.
•
JCS HR provides consultancy across all sectors including manufacturing, government, media,
financial services, medical and engineering.
•
JCS HR has provided consultancy for groups of up to 1000 people.
For media information please contact Jenny Green @ Smart Arts on
07545 696713 / 01484 685544 or
email jenny@smartarts.co.uk