Poll Results: Have You Fired A Family Member?

More than half of respondents (52%) have faced serious family-related employment problems, having either fired a family member or dealt with enough conflict to consider it. Significantly, 32% reported smooth sailing with family in the business.

Here’s a hard truth: When family members are fired, in 44% of the cases it’s because of poor performance or reliability. Another 13% were let go due to attendance or work-ethic problems. Overall, the poll shows that when family members lose their jobs, it’s usually not because of business shifts but rather because they weren’t meeting the bar.

When family firings happened, the largest share (38%) involved an in-law. Meanwhile, parents accounted for only 4% of those fired, suggesting that some lines are crossed far less often than others—or never need to be.

The fallout from firing a family member is anything but predictable, and the results revealed a deep emotional divide. At one extreme, 25% said the decision left lasting tension, yet an equal amount (25%) claimed the opposite, saying the situation actually strengthened their relationship.

Firing family leaves a mark, but most don’t look back. A majority (54%) said it was absolutely the right call, with another 13% admitting it was difficult but necessary. Only 7% flat-out regretted their decision.