Dear Massi, My sister got married a few months ago and her husband has joined the family business.

He couldn’t really hold a job down before.

My sister insisted that she wanted to marry him and asked my dad to give him a job.

Staff are complaining that he makes excuses to leave the shop and then they have found him sleeping in his car. 

This has happened several times.

I asked one staff member to document every time it happened and send me pictures as proof.

If it was anyone else I would have sacked him by now.

What’s worse is that my sister is now pregnant so I can’t really let him go. What do you think I should do?

Massi says: In order to maintain a professional relationship it is important to detach from personal liaisons.

You are paying your brother-in-law to work, yet he seems to be taking advantage of his family connections.

It is important to speak to your brother-in-law privately during working hours.

Explain clearly that you know of his activities and present the evidence to him.

Tell him that his work ethic is not acceptable and that unless changes are made you will have to take the necessary disciplinary action.

He needs to know this is not an empty threat.