Ask Jack: How Far Should A Manager Go To Help An Employee In Need?

AUGUST 2023

I have an employee who just started work. I was told he lives in his car. Is it a bad idea to let him bunk in my spare bedroom until he can get on his feet?

?

First, it is admirable you want to help. Empathy is a quality of strong leadership.

I understand your desire to provide assistance, and you should? - within the boundaries of an employer-employee relationship. Unfortunately, allowing an employee to live with you goes outside workplace boundaries and presents a risk.

It creates a perception of favoritism and questions as to why you don't help every employee in need. It also creates a perception that your gift gives you leverage to exploit an employee in need.

There is also a safety risk. A Michigan Taco Bell manager was recently killed by a coworker who he allowed to live with him after he learned he was homeless. According to a report, the employee eventually began to become violent with the manager and other employees, so the manager asked the coworker to live somewhere else. That request led to an altercation, the worker pulled a gun, shot, and killed the manager. https://thencbeat.com/michigan-taco-bell-manager-killed-by-homeless-employee-he-let-live-with-him/

The final takeaway is that it is perfectly okay to feel empathy for your employee. However, your efforts to help should stay within the bounds of the workplace and your organization's policies and procedures.

Jack McCalmon, Leslie Zieren, and Emily Brodzinski are attorneys with more than 50 years combined experience assisting employers in lowering their risk, including answering questions, like the one above, through the McCalmon Group's Best Practices Help Line. The Best Practice Help Line is a service of The McCalmon Group, Inc. Your organization may have access to The Best Practice Help Line or a similar service from another provider at no cost to you or at a discount. For questions about The Best Practice Help Line or what similar services are available to you via this Platform, call 888.712.7667.

If you have a question that you would like Jack McCalmon, Leslie Zieren, or Emily Brodzinski to consider for this column, please submit it to [email protected]. Please note that The McCalmon Group cannot guarantee that your question will be answered. Answers are based on generally accepted risk management best practices. They are not, and should not be considered, legal advice. If you need an answer immediately or desire legal advice, please call your local legal counsel.