The conclusion here should be very simple and obvious. You should avoid hiring family members, but if you do, treat them like any other employees. In fact, go to great lengths to treat them like any other employee—no better and no worse.
Philip Palaveev is the CEO of the Ensemble Practice LLC. He’s an industry consultant, author of the books G2: Building the Next Generation and The Ensemble Practice and the lead faculty member for the G2 Institute.