I employed a cousin of mine 6 months ago in Nigeria as a sales man. Before then he lived in one room without a proper bed, never had a job and barely lived hand to mouth. Now I pay him NGR37,000 per high value item he sells for me. He has a constant supply of at least 5 of these every month and all he has to do is contact our dedicated buyers, close deal and pay cheque or cash in company account. He could do this in a week and have the rest of the time off. Now see the problem, he has now started withholding part of my money without even informing me. First one was 145K. I wrote it off as advance for his housing. Next 74K and I said ok, that's your advance on future commission. Then last week we sold a unit at barely breaking even price and he deducted 60K. I am mad. The lunacy in this is: does he not know that I will see the difference between sale price and amount deposited in account? I complained and he told me how hard he works and how he will move on to another firm if I insult him.

He is my cousin. What do Nairalanders suggest I do? I am pretty miffed.

@poster
even though he is family,you are trying to run a business therefore you have to treat the issue like you would with a stranger. this is a business not a family cash cow. sometimes its better to let go and NOT involve family with business(less hassle and more professional).

fire his ass and then tell his parents why, or you can tell them first. . .but either way, FIRE THE CLOWN! heaven knows what else could happen if u tolerate more nonsense

netotse:

fire his backside and then tell his parents why, or you can tell them first. . .but either way, FIRE THE CLOWN! heaven knows what else could happen if u tolerate more nonsense

I can't agree more than this.

U VE HEARD IT ALL!!.fire the motherfucker he wants to ruin u, being his cousin and all is emotional blackmail,if u let it to come into ur business ur competitor will win and u loose becos of one ungrateful tramp, the choice is urs, i had an uncle who was doing this kind of good samaritan gesture,in the end he has nothing to show for it but ingratitude from the same people he lifted up from the hands of poverty,cousin and cousin nig plc, today he is regretting, so the ball is in ur court afterall u r still the boss,if u want the company to thrive,take decisive decisions and remove emotional sentiments, i bet ur cousin will not try this nonsense with an INDIAN!!!, or a CHINESE.

Is really bad to hear this kind of info from your hard earned money. This kind of situation occurs when relatives are involved in a business. This is because they will never take you serious and think they are doing you a favour.
Should in case you need professional logistics representative, we are situated in suit 8 Ayeni plaza off awolowo road
Ikeja. we can handle all your logistics deals,close business and carry out what ever instruction you might need.
If you are interested ping me here pls

Thank you all for your insightful and kind suggestions. My inclination is to aim for a middle ground since the business is also expanding and taking in more staff. Since I had big plans for him (company car, increased capacity, responsibility, income, equity etc), he has severely limited his real options for upward mobility in the company. I will allow him to maintain his contacts with his pool of clients. However, I am completely taking away his responsibility for managing payments or contributing to managerial strategy, that is, he can now function only as a salesman - strike the deal and then refer the clients to a cashier (non relative). Payments now can only be accepted as cheques or receipts and confirmation of bank deposits from clients prior to releasing their goods. He will also report to a (non relative) manager with higher authority and compete with other (non-relative) salesmen/women for sales and consequently, commission. I think this treatment would humble him without destroying him or my goodwill at home. No one will listen to complaints at home if they know he still has a job and I am sure he will be miffed as my relative to have to report to layers of authority he thinks he should be in or above. Where he gets angry and refuses to make sales, then he will go hungry. His call.

irohadis:

Thank you all for your insightful and kind suggestions. My inclination is to aim for a middle ground since the business is also expanding and taking in more staff. Since I had big plans for him (company car, increased capacity, responsibility, income, equity etc), he has severely limited his real options for upward mobility in the company. I will allow him to maintain his contacts with his pool of clients. However, I am completely taking away his responsibility for managing payments or contributing to managerial strategy, that is, he can now function only as a salesman - strike the deal and then refer the clients to a cashier (non relative). Payments now can only be accepted as cheques or receipts and confirmation of bank deposits from clients prior to releasing their goods. He will also report to a (non relative) manager with higher authority and compete with other (non-relative) salesmen/women for sales and consequently, commission. I think this treatment would humble him without destroying him or my goodwill at home. No one will listen to complaints at home if they know he still has a job and I am sure he will be miffed as my relative to have to report to layers of authority he thinks he should be in or above. Where he gets angry and refuses to make sales, then he will go hungry. His call.

Smart idea dude!

My two cents: Peeps like that tend to become really jealous of your success over time, he might even look for ways to bring down your business or worse, come after your life. . .pigs will always remain pigs even if build them a mansion

violent:

Smart idea dude!

My two cents: Peeps like that tend to become really jealous of your success over time, he might even look for ways to bring down your business or worse, come after your life. . .pigs will always remain pigs even if build them a mansion

you are absolutely right!!!!!

family and bussiness dont mix
cos its never "bussiness as usual"
no your brother is ur brother.
this is africa and u cant kill him
take him off the job

I saw ur complain about ur cousin.You used ur good mind to help him,but he dose'nt value ur help to him.If i had seen a family person to have shown this kind of help i will av gone far today than where i am.Business is Business when it come to that.U just av to keep him out if u want to make it.By the way if it d kind of business i will like to do with my job here in Abuja,let talk am a Sales man.U can reach me on omojasper@yahoo.com or 08056410197,08067834730.Take care.

***Kick him out,i'd say***
Punishing him within your company structure will only mask the real problem:lack of responsibility.That's a big minus.

Thinking through this again, I agree with most of the posters. Thanks a lot. I will follow your wise advise and let him go. To be humane, I will arrange a severance package - also just to deal with the 'political' fallout.

The above was my post. So thanks again.

My father always told me something "There is no emotion in business"

@ Poster : Fire him. . . .

Keep your family and business completely separated
Money and blood don't mix like 2 di.cks and no bit.ch
Find yourself in serious sh.it

The Ten Commandments - Notorious B.I.G