Don't Mix Business with Family

So today I have something to speak on that has been sitting on my chest. Mixing business with family and pleasure. This is something that should never happen in the business world, but you will find some people who need it in their life. When a CEO has their wife or significant other working for them or vice versa, it can be a headache if not handled correctly. My reason for making this post is because this has just happened to me. Now I am unemployed behind it.

            This is me getting a little personal with you guys, but I think that its needed incase someone else has the same issue. So I was working for a company that assisted teaching inner city students in Ohio. During the time of me being an instructor, I had to work with my CEO’s fiancé and other family members. The first thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the payroll. We didn’t get paid until he got paid. His family and friends were ok with it because they knew what to expect, but I just got her so I was very confused. Next, my CEO let his fiancé run parts of the program where she was my boss. That didn’t work because I could never talk back because I felt I would have been disrespectful to his fiancé. In the end, I parted ways with the company because I felt my use was unwanted and had no purpose since his family did all the work, and I was just there looking confused.

There was a time when we had a team meeting with the CEO included and I was getting chewed out for things I had no idea were a big deal until the meeting. I felt his fiancé treated me as a friend when he wasn’t there, but when he was there I was an enemy. Then having to wait to get paid because he didn’t get paid was useless. I feel if we have pay date, the CEO should provide payment when due even if he takes a loss. At one time I was paid almost a month late. This company has lasted for 10 years plus, but it seems I was the first worker that he hasn’t known for years.

All in all, I feel no one should work for a company where they don’t feel comfortable. Especially, a company that has more family members employed than outsiders. Mixing family and business works for some people, but not for the music industry.