And When Family and Organizational Relationships Intermingle? A Study of Labor Relations in the Hotel Sector of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

Understanding the relationships between the family and the employee within a family business means diving into an ocean filled with bifurcations, possible sources, and different contexts, playing an essential role in the construction of knowledge and the interpretation of events. The general objective of this research is to understand the dynamics between family and business in the context of hotel organizations in Ouro Preto (MG). Methodologically, this is exploratory-descriptive research with a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews and participant observation involving managers and long-serving employees of family-managed hotels and inns, all located in Ouro Preto. Based on a semi-structured interview guide, the interviews were analyzed using the content analysis technique, allowing for an in-depth interpretation of the responses obtained. The main results found concern the centrality of family management as a determining factor that influences employees’ routines, especially with regard to decision-making, division of tasks, and informal hierarchies. Trust, affection, and informality emerge as striking features of these relationships, while at the same time they may generate conflicts and insecurities. It is concluded that the overlap between family and professional roles in family-run hotel organizations in Ouro Preto reveals both an environment of closeness and hospitality and challenges regarding professionalization and people management.