Boss agrees to let employee work from home after 3 PM daily, boss's daughter gets annoyed when she challenges her on it: 'She has no authority'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jan 17, 2026 9:00 AM EST

There is an argument to be made that work and family should never mix.

Without a doubt, if your kid wants to be a part of the family business, it is tempting to go the nepotism route and give them a nicely paid position with you to kickstart (or prolong) their career. Most parents want to see their children do well in life, and there is no more reassuring way to do that than by making sure it happens under your watchful eye.

At the same time, working with mom and/or dad is not necessarily going to help an employee grow professionally. It can give them an unearned sense of authority and make them the kind of coworker who is a real pain to work with for everybody else. From the point of view of other employees, it can also make it more difficult to speak up when such a colleague does something wrong or negatively impacts their work. For those parents who want to work with their children, they have to ask themselves the tough question of whether they are really willing to treat them like somebody whose salary they pay, and not simply a close family member.

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  • one woman in business attire leans over another sitting down at a computer to discuss something, with shelves in the background
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The boundaries of what a child is allowed to do in a parent's business can become fuzzy when not clearly defined and enforced. This is something that one woman recently found herself struggling with, after facing an altercation with her boss's daughter.

    Her boss had personally approved her request to leave the office each day at 3 PM and complete her workday from home. When she started doing this, though, his daughter messaged her and demanded she explain what this arrangement was.

    She told her in detail, and the daughter, who worked part-time at the company, claimed that she was not allowed to do this more than twice a week. This contrasted with her father, who reiterated that their original deal was still approved. He told her to ignore his daughter's opinion, but the employee was confused on how to proceed.

  • Coworker (boss’s daughter) questioning my work arrangement. Is it worth addressing or should I ignore?

    Edit: sorry for formatting. Before the holidays, I made an arrangement directly with my boss that I could leave the office at 3:00 PM and work the rest of my shift from home.
    via lindafromevilded
  • He agreed, and I've been doing this for the last three weeks (I was also off for two weeks over the holidays).
    via lindafromevilded
  • Everything was clear and approved. Today, after I got home, my coworker, who is also my boss's daughter, messaged me asking why I was leaving at 3.
    via lindafromevilded
  • The conversation went like this: Her: "Hey, I just want to know, are you leaving every day at 3?" Me: "Yes, it's an arrangement I made with your dad." Her: "Every day?" Me: "Yes." Her: "Until when?
    via lindafromevilded
  • What time do you work until?" Me: "Once again, it's an arrangement made between your dad and I." She kept pushing, so I eventually explained the arrangement in more detail.
    via lindafromevilded
  • an open MacBook on a desk with a plant, water bottle, and smartphone beside it. The desk is beside a window with a view over the rooftops
    via Mikey Harris
  • She then replied saying thanks for clarifying, but added that it's only fine "once in a while" and that I can only do it twice a week.
    via lindafromevilded
  • At that point, I was confused and frustrated, so I called my boss to double-check. He was genuinely confused and said everything is still fine and approved.
    via lindafromevilded
  • I explained that his daughter told me it could only be twice a week. He told me it has nothing to do with her, she has no authority, and I can ignore anything she says.
    via lindafromevilded
  • For context, she's a part-time employee and not in management. However, at the end of the day she is family.
    via lindafromevilded
  • Now I'm stuck on what to do next. Do I: ⚫Message her and say I spoke with her dad and the arrangement stands, and respectfully ask her to stop questioning it?
    via lindafromevilded
  • . • Or do I completely ignore her going forward and only deal directly with my boss?
    via lindafromevilded
  • I don't want unnecessary tension, but I also don't like being questioned or told what I can/can't do by someone who doesn't have authority.
    via lindafromevilded
  • Looking for advice on the most professional way to handle this.
    via lindafromevilded
  • a businesswoman holding a mug and a folder stands over another, who is sat at a desk and pointing at something on her computer screen
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • writing_mm_romance You allow him to address this with his daughter as the boss.
    via writing_mm_romance
  • lindafromevildead Original Poster's Reply Thank you. I can't help feeling like I did something wrong.
    via lindafromevilded
  • Far_Cartographer 1374 When speaking to her about your boss, stop addressing him as "your dad." Bc in the work environment, he is your boss/supervisor. You don't need to message her or talk to her about your approved schedule. Your boss gave you the green light. If she mentions it again, simply tell her it's approved and any other questions she has about your schedule needs to be directed to the supervisor. She's on a little power trip and think she has some say so.
    via Far_Cartographer1374
  • Snurgisdr And don't just hope that he will. Ask him.
    via Snurgisdir
  • Successful_Club3005 I wouldn't of said anything but "it's none of your business" bc it isn't any of her business bc she isn't a boss.
    via Successful_Club3005
  • DigitalDiva321 Continue doing what you're doing is my two cents worth. If she brings this up to you again, just say that you clarified it with the boss (her dad) and if she has any questions, she should talk with him about it. Wash, rinse, repeat.
    via DigitalDiva321
  • CndnCowboy1975 You dont do anything. You do what your EMPLOYER AND YOU agreed to, period. She has no say.
    via CndnCowboy1975
  • jreddit0000 Your first mistake was in answering her questions. - This is none of her business and she should talk to your manager/supervisor. Your second mistake was referring to her familial connections. -Your boss is Mr Foo or Ms Bar. Not "your dad".
    via jreddit0000
  • sdsva Lots of times, coworkers perceive that someone else is getting something that they are not. It's none of their business. We all negotiate terms both coming in the door and after we're employed. It's nobody else's business. I wouldn't even have replied to the coworker in the first place.
    via sdsva

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terrible coworkers boss employee working from home manager work coworkers wfh workplace
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