Are you friends with your employees?
 

is work work? or do you socialize with your employees outside of work?

when i first hire someone, no. as time goes on, we always become friends.

what about you?

Previously Yes - however it's not always a good idea. If you need to get things done there must be some authority and it's quite hard to say things too loud for real friends. So, now I'm keeping some distance. Of course we're drinking together etc... :glugglug

Well, I don't have an office where my employees work from, they work in another country and we communicate over ICQ and email. I think it works fairly well. I'm not sure there are any good business reasons for being too friendly with employees because ultimately you are not equals.

What do you think? Are there benefits to being friendly with your employees?

no their all lazy wankers! :feels-hot

in the end you have to be the boss. doesn't mean you can't be friends. i simply haven't had a problem - as far as work goes, it's my way period.

i've heard people having problems, but i've never experienced any issues. i only employee 3 full timers + a part timer. the 2 that have been with me the longest, have both been with me for well over 2 years...

Do you ever have times when they don't get the things done that they're supposed to have done?

sure. then you give them shit. it's not complicated.

Yeah, but thats the downside of being friends with them as well. Giving your friends shit makes things unbalanced in the relationship.

i haven't found that at all. business is business, fun is fun. anyway, doesn't sound like you even have or ever will experience it from your situation.

Well I don't experience it now, but I was thinking about getting a local office.

Not a good idea to be close friends with your employees. Friends sure. But not close ones.