Children of contractors can be a joy and a disappointment. All family situations become complicated with the addition of history. I have no advice other than observations. Some children shouldn’t work for their parent. The accountability is uneven when compared to other employees (too harsh or not at all). Also, the perception of others is unfair. The child works for the company due to the owner. Each of these is destructive to the child or parent (or both). Be fair to the child and let the employment relationship be their idea. Some families have some very clear processes for employment of the contractor’s family member such as a definitive number of years that they have to work for another company or time required in the field building work.
Read more in our recent books published by McGraw Hill, The Practical Construction MBA (2011, 458 pages) and Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day for more information – go to: http://stevensci.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SCII&Category_Code=PCMBABook
Having a job is a big responsibility. Family owned and operated businesses do get along within the family members. If its outsiders involved there is the power trip factor is involved. Professional business practice is a must under all the circumstances.
Family businesses run smoothly in good times and when everyone is working hard and doing their job. Hard times put a strain on relationships and encourage finger-pointing. When a family member is slacking off it can get real tense. I worked well with my brother for 15 years because we each did our job well and didn’t tell the other how to do theirs. My daughter is going crazy about her brother-in-law who is not not cutting it getting their third restaurant up to speed. Here’s a family construction software business that is making it work in a tough economy – http://www.ledgerwoodassociatesusa.com
It doesn’t always work out, and it’s not always easy, but being on a construction site with my son was some of the best , and proudest, moments in my life.