Finding the right balance between love, family, and work can be tricky. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s a good reminder that romance (and family ties) doesn’t just happen outside the office; they can show up at work too.
In small businesses, where everyone wears a few different hats and works closely together, it’s common to have family members on the team. It’s nice because you trust them, but it can also create some challenges if personal relationships start mixing with work.
So, how can you keep things professional while dealing with these tricky situations?
1. Set Clear Relationship Policies
We always say this, “Policies are the key for clarity”. It’s important to establish clear boundaries and expectations from the outset. A simple workplace relationship policy can help ensure employees know what's acceptable when family members or romantic partners are involved.
Consider requiring disclosure of close relationships to avoid conflicts of interest.
2. Manage Conflicts of Interest Proactively
Family members working together can be great for business, but it might also lead to accusations of favoritism. Similarly, romantic relationships might create awkwardness in reporting structures.
Ensure that employees in relationships do not directly manage or evaluate each others’ performance to maintain fairness and transparency. If you don’t have many options, consider getting another staff member in the process to ensure fairness and consistency.
3. Create a Respectful, Harassment-Free Culture
Legal duties under the Equality Act require businesses to protect employees from harassment, including sexual harassment. It is now a legal requirement for small businesses to have a clear sexual harassment policy and procedure in place for reporting concerns.
Ensure all employees, family or not, understand that the same rules apply to everyone, and no one is above compliance.
4. Handle Workplace Breakups with Care
Not every relationship works out, and when it ends, tensions can spill into the workplace. Having procedures for maintaining professionalism post-breakup can protect your business environment.
Mediation or setting ground rules for interactions can help reduce tension.
5. Offer Training on Harassment & Professional Conduct
Providing training on respectful workplace behavior and preventing sexual harassment helps create a safer, more welcoming environment.
Holding regular training shows that you care about keeping things respectful and professional.
Building a Safe Workplace Culture
At the end of the day, whether they're related or not, your employees are like family. Encouraging open communication and respectful behavior is important. As a small business owner, taking the right steps early on ensures that love in the air doesn’t lead to workplace drama or legal trouble!
If you need HR support that feels just like family, reach out to us at Dakota Blue Consulting. We also specialise in HR support for family-owned businesses.