I work in the family business. Am I sponging off my parents?

[Hawkeye-X]

We have two small businesses - both viable and caters to small businesses. The other business caters to condos and apartment buildings (we finally expanded on that one this month). My dad pays me once a month at a maximum of $940. My other paycheck goes to my mother who helps pay down the bills we have (kinds of a go-around with Social Security earning limits). I've been with him for 8 years after I couldn't find another job, back in 2002 while living in Tucson. I almost got hired in Pittsburgh (was about to fly over there but the hiring freeze occurred the very next day after the job offer) but it did not pan out. Unemployed for 9 months, I decided to move my family back to Denver after living in Tucson for a year. Dad hired me part-time to comply with the Social Security rules.

Hawkeye-X

[midnight]

1. No you are not sponging off your parents. Sounds like it is a win win...

[HopeHoops]

2. If you're doing work then absolutely not. He would just have to pay someone else instead.

There's nothing wrong with that.

[GodlessBiker]

3. If you are adding value to the business, then no.

[panader0]

Tucson will be 107 degrees today............

You'd be sponging off your brow if you were still there.

[Taitertots]

4. Sponging would be taking money for nothing

It is not sponging if you are doing a job and getting paid the same as anyone else.


Just don't become the person who gets advanced within their parents company and acts like having daddy run the company is not the reason.

[pinboy3niner]

5. Good for you, Hawkeye

I think you already know the answer--this doesn't even come CLOSE to "sponging". You're compensated for your labor and the family business receives the value of your labor--what could possibly be wrong with that?

In a tough economy, I'm happy to see you've found a way to survive. I hope, too, that being back near your family again is also a plus.

[cbdo2007]

6. Don't ask us - ask your dad.

He's the one seeing how much work you are doing. If you are doing good work for the amount you're getting paid then no. If you get to work late every day and only work an hour and during that hour spend 30 minutes of it on DU then yes.

[Hawkeye-X]

7. Y'know, my dad has been been bitching about my DU usage lately

I'm trying to tone it down during non-work hours... but got a lot of idle time that my father would rather see me spend on trying to fix the authenication server (did I mention it was already fixed last week and is running fine - and yet he wants to double check!)

Hawkeye-X