Its never a good idea to be writing a paycheck for your friends or family. it just doesn't work in the long run. At least it hasn't for me

Lost a few friends like this. One fellow decided to clone my sites on my own servers, and the other just became resentful of my success.

No friends or family.

yeah bad stuff!

Depending on the individuals and what they expect from the work/friendship equation. I've had people working for me that we all became relatively close friends. They knew my limits - sick days, slacking off - when there was overtime though, they all volunteered (same pay) - when the company needed us to work until 4 am...they were all there. Whatever was put on my shoulders, they would be there to take some of the weight off for me too. I can't complain. I could have counted on them - and they knew they could have counted on me. It was a give and take.

If your employer/employee friendship is bringing expectations from the employee that weren't there beforehand, then it's not a good idea to let the friendship grow. If the person is just as productive, doesn't expect preferential treatment and respects the same rules as everyone else, I don't see a problem with it. The other thing to take into consideration is that we do tend to spend most of our time with our co-workers, so it's inevitable that friendships grow at the workplace - when it changes the attitudes of the people involved towards their work and responsabilities, then it may create a problem.

Ive worked for friends and employed friends...

I can seperate the work relationship from the freindship part and have in the past when I worked for friends. I am more willing to go the extra mile to help out people since their success is relative to my success.

At the end of the day, they are disrespecting your friendship overall and thats not cool if you have been right by them.

It all comes down to how much shit do you want to take? is this person a nightmare in some respects, yet really happening and on the ball in others?

Can they improve and or want to change?

Have a chat with them, if no change, then explore your options. each person out there is unique and brings different pluses and minuses to your table. Whats the best for YOU?

You have some talented friends

:glugglug

Bad idea...always a bad idea.
Friends and business are always the worst mix. If they are friends when they start out they won't be when you finish.:2 cents:

indeed, only very few relationships have what it takes to get through such a "situation"

can be very difficult...its usually not best for the relationship

I dunno it's not really a problem if you put your limit clear

50 friend / employes !

My whole staff and I were friends before we started this shit. . I wouldn't have it any other way.

always a bad idea if you ask me
try to get around that

as long as the problems don't become to much.

I have no friends.

Most of the times its a bad idea but maybe 1 in 10 ends up good

when it's the other way around, friend then employee i find they get so lazy, not worth the time