So you hired your first employee and things are going well. Congratulations you are probably really close with the first employee you tell them things about your family and what you do on the weekends. They sometimes even become confident on personal and business matters. But be careful that line unfortunately has to be drawn somewhere between professional and personal. Sometimes your first employee doesn’t always work out; they have gone on to other things and with that a lot of your best-kept secrets.
Let’s face it, we all have been there. It does get lonely at the top or the bottom if you put your people first as most of us do. If it ends on amicable turns no harm no foul but if it gets a little crazy company data walking out the door or company clients walking out the door things can heat up real quick and you find yourself calling an attorney.
Oh boy, you just got sidetracked from your business and are now focused on possibly saving it. Things like this happen and how do we avoid it? The best way is way upfront, do not get attached especially not in today’s society here today and relocated tomorrow. Set expectations upfront. I am the owner and unfortunately, my life’s work plus my family ride on the success of my company. The employee is a part of it but they get to go home with the aggravation of a client paying the bill or not having enough money in the account to fund payroll whatever the matter is, we take that home with us. That is the life of a business owner. So have clearly defined and deliberate conversations ask bout the family and what they did on the weekend but stay out of domestic issues at home and steer clear of giving personal advice. Try to keep everything as close to professional as you can don’t be a cold-hearted AI bot you have empathy and sympathy but don’t dive too deep. It is a slippery slope and you can find yourself on the bottom.
So here are some things to put in place EPLI coverage that protects you from wrongful termination, the EAP program gives them an outlet if they are struggling with personal matters, and also has a handbook that defines things like PTO, bereavement policies, etc. Stay frosty my friends…
