Colaboradores Ajenos a la Familia

What about non-family employees in the family business?

Non-family employees are the backbone of most family businesses. They should be treated equitably and professionally.

Do non-family employees in a family business have unique problems?

It depends on the company. Some family businesses, as they grow, lag behind in good human resource policies and procedures. But all businesses are subject to ERISA and other government regulations regarding the workplace. Using some kind of outside human resource assistance is essential.

Are there more subtle issues, as well?

Yes, there can be. A family business has an opportunity to embrace its non-family business employees as part of the team, assuring low turnover and good morale. It's important that such employees are not made to feel that they are second-class citizens.

Why would they be considered second-class citizens?

One example would be when there are one or more next generation employees working in the business. These family members should guard against demonstrating feelings of superiority or entitlement to avoid resentment and poor morale in the company. While most non-family business members are aware that the future of the family employees will probably be different from theirs in terms of the longer term future, the best policy for the company to follow is to treat all employees equitably. All should have job descriptions, performance evaluations, and requirements to follow the same workplace standards.