Business co-owner fires 22-year-old sister from company, prevents husband from paying her until the end of the month: 'She wants to go on vacation'

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Jun 7, 2026 1:15 PM EDT

Should exceptions be made for an employee just because you're related to them?

There is an argument to be made that family and the workplace don't really mix, purely because it can be difficult to stay professional when you are employed with (or employing) a relative. You might be inclined to indulge your nepotistic instincts and give them things that they do not deserve, and on the other hand, it is also possible that you might let immature family infighting get in the way of doing your job properly.

Still, if you have the power to get a family member a decent job, the temptation is always going to be there. That, or there is another relative putting on the pressure to get them working with you. As some like to say, with great power comes great responsibility. One of those responsibilities in this case is going to be making sure that this employee gets fair treatment.

In a scenario like this, it is also quite easy for the worker in question to have an entitled attitude towards their job. They may think that they can get away with what they couldn't do in other workplaces. When they go down this path, things can start to get complicated.

via Resume Genius

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A woman who ran a business with her husband was facing a difficult situation after employing her younger sister in a part-time role. Her sibling had been disruptive in the workplace and tried to cause drama to such an extent that the woman felt that she had no choice but to fire her from the job.
Despite her work ending on the 10^th, her husband promised to pay his sister-in-law until the end of the month so that she could go on vacation. The woman didn't believe she needed the money and told her that she would not be getting paid any more than she was owed. Her sister wasn't happy, leaving her wondering if she had done the right thing.
Am I wrong for telling my sister that she won’t get any money from us?

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via Resume Genius

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