[Advanced] Is Hiring Your Mom Risky Business? (1)

When it comes to hiring a new employee, many entrepreneurs are turning to the person they trust most—Mom!
by Laura Petrecca

As controller, Nikki Simon has significant responsibilities at Scottsdale, Arizona, commercial real estate firm S/I. She handles financial matters, helps with human resources and works on real estate deals. In addition, she has one more vital company role: She gave birth to the founder. Shortly after launching his firm in 2010, Joshua Simon hired his mom as a full-time employee. “There is no bond stronger than a mother to their child, so I have the best person at the helm where the money is,” said Joshua. “I know she’s always looking out for my best interests.” Whether it’s bringing on a bookkeeper, board member or top manager, many entrepreneurs have turned to a very familiar resource: their mothers. Book publisher Jay Nadeau hired her mother, Marie, as an editor. Construction company owner Matthias Williams employed his mother, Rose, as manager. And graphics design firm owner Faith Amon has mom Linda handle bookkeeping and promotional products sales.

Benefits and risks 
In hiring their moms, founders often gain much more than an able-bodied worker, said Wayne Rivers, president of consulting firm The Family Business Institute. They also reap loyalty, honest feedback and an often-mature perspective—as well as an employee they can trust with office keys, bank account passwords and company secrets. Yet working with any close relative can be treacherous territory, say family business experts. When in a professional relationship with a parent, sibling, cousin or other kin, problems can easily permeate off-duty family time. Childhood insecurities can arise during business meetings.
And when a mother is an employee of her son or daughter, that presents unique challenges.
“Children stop being children at some point, but parents never stop being parents,” said Rivers. ...

Language Lab
controller n.
someone who is in charge of a particular system, organization, or part of an organization

bring on [phrasal verb]
1 bring on (something) or bring (something) on : to cause (something) to appear or occur
- The crisis was brought on by many factors.

2 bring (something) on (someone) : to cause (something bad) to happen to (someone)
- You've brought nothing but shame on your family since the day you were born!

- I can't help thinking you've brought some of this trouble on yourself.

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