Is it OK to Hire People from Your Friend’s Company?

Re:Is it OK to Hire People from Your Friend’s Company? by CodeMage on Wednesday February 23, 2011 @01:54PM (#2255235)

The whole post is based on the assumption that if you hire someone from your friend's company, you lose your friend. Maybe I'm just naive, but I think friendship that ends for such a reason is a lousy friendship.

I firmly believe that one should be able to separate business from friendship. For me, this part of the post highlights the flaw in author's reasoning:

Here’s an easy way to think about the dynamic. If your husband left you, would you want your best friend to date him?

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Re:Is it OK to Hire People from Your Friend’s Company? by Travis on Wednesday February 23, 2011 @06:49PM (#2256333)

The analogy falls flat, because business attachments are not necessarily the same as romantic attachments. Or friendships.

That said, I agree. It can cause trouble. But is your priority running your business, or is it keeping your friendship alive?

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Re:Is it OK to Hire People from Your Friend’s Company? by chrito on Thursday February 24, 2011 @02:24AM (#2257250)

The default assumption is that business implies objectivity and logic... at least that was my perspective as an engineer.

However, in practice it seems more often than not... lasting business leaders are highly disposed towards emotion (both towards themselves and others). Combine that with the fact that it's a small world when it comes to relevant leaders... and trading rationality for trust may not burn in the short term, but seems like a bad trade in the long run.

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