When work stays in the family: Parent–child employment configurations, safety communication, and young workers’ injury risk

Introduction: This study examines how specific parent–child employment configurations shape family safety communication and injury risk among young workers in family-owned businesses. Method: Drawing on cross-domain multiplex theory (Methot et al., 2024), we analyze survey data from 2,275 young workers (M age = 16.45; 49.9% female) in Ontario, Canada, distinguishing among four relational work arrangements: working for parents, working with parents, working both for and with parents, and working neither for nor with parents. Results: Although thicker multiplex ties were expected to strengthen safety communication and reduce injury risk, working for parents was associated with less frequent family safety communication, and safety communication did not mediate the relationship between work configuration and lost-time injury. However, young workers who worked for or both for and with their parents were significantly more likely to report work-related injuries than those working outside of family relationships. Practical applications: These findings challenge assumptions about the protective nature of family business employment, illustrate how relational structures can both enable and constrain safety communication, and highlight the need for targeted safety supports for higher-risk parent–child work arrangements.