Instructions

Purpose: Clarity & Defining Expectations.

We're introducing this tool to help you and your family clarify and define expectations for how family members enter, behave, and leave a company. The goal is to help support healthy individuals, family relationships, and a strong company. It also helps to avoid unhealthy family conflicts.

How to Construct:

• Talk as a Family: Before you fill out the Family Employment Expectations, the current owners and their spouses should have a conversation, using the questions on the template, about what to include. 

• The Earlier, the Better: Ideally, the Family Employment Expectations should be developed when the kids are young because that is when the slippery slope of family business can start.

• Personalize Your Expectations: Remember, the sample is based on our experience guiding family businesses, but you know your business better than we do, so don’t be afraid to edit your expectations to fit your own needs.

Sections Explained:

• Purpose: The importance of having a standardized process for family members who want to be employed by the family business.

• Expectations for Joining: These expectations outline the criteria necessary for someone to be considered for a position within the company. These expectations can vary from company to company, but for the sample, the noted expectations include a genuine interest in the industry, a confirmed new position or a vacancy in a defined job, and adequate training. You might also want to add these expectations for full-time employees: at least two years of college finished and at least 2 years of full-time work experience outside your family company.

• How to Join the Company: This outlines what actions Family Members must take to join the company. The sample states that family Members must express their interest in writing to the leadership team at least 3 months before the desired start of employment, discuss their aspirations with all Family Members already on the Leadership Team, and then follow the standard application procedure for any position.

• Expectations Once You Are Here: These are reminders of how employed Family Members should conduct themselves to retain employment. These include but are not limited to viewing employment as an opportunity, not a birthright, fully supporting the company's Vision and Values, respecting the 4 Teams of Family Business and the chain of command, conforming to the policies and requirements governing non-family employees, etc.

• Expectations for Leaving: This section helps clarify what steps the Family Members should take when they resign or if they get let go. For instance, if a Family Member wants to leave, they will provide at least a two-week notice, attempt to transition responsibilities and relationships well, and follow the policies and requirements in the Employee Handbook. If the company lets a Family Member go, they will provide at least a two-week notice and follow the policies and requirements in the Employee Handbook.

How to Keep the Family Employment Expectations Updated:

• Review Once a Year: As part of your yearly planning, go through the Family Employment Expectations and update it. 

• Adjust as Needed: You can tweak the Family Employment Expectations anytime during the year, but do a full review annually to keep things on track.

Need Additional Help?

1. If you get stuck on a technological issue or don’t understand the logistics of the tool itself, feel free to email us at karen@commongoodfba.com!

2. If you get stuck on how the tool applies to your business specifically and would like one of our advisors to walk you through it step-by-step, consider our Professionalize the Business program!

By following these tips, you’ll create Family Employment Expectations that help your family and business stay clear with defined expectations.