The employment of offspring by parents within family enterprises is a prevalent practice with significant implications for both the family and the business [105]. However, the decision-making process behind such hiring is complex [43], driven by a wide array of often overlapping motivations spanning familial duties, developmental goals, strategic business needs, and financial considerations. While various facets have been studied, a synthesized understanding encompassing the full spectrum of drivers is less developed. This literature review aims to systematically analyse and integrate the diverse factors influencing the parental decision to hire their own child, providing a structured overview of this multifaceted phenomenon. Methods: This study employs a systematic literature review methodology. Initial analysis identified 11 distinct conceptual facets of parental hiring motivations, which were subsequently synthesized into the two overarching themes—Parental/Familial and Entrepreneurial perspectives—that structure the review. Supporting literature was systematically identified through searches of major academic database, using relevant keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed research concerning parental hiring in family firms. Results: The synthesis reveals that the parental decision to hire offspring emerges from a complex interplay of different factors, rather than a single rationale. The analysis elucidates the inherent tension between affective parental motivations and rational entrepreneurial imperatives. This research offers a structured understanding of these multifaceted influences, underscoring the necessity of considering both family-centric and business-oriented perspectives to comprehensively study this critical decision and its implications.