I really enjoyed reading the article by Don Tyler titled “Working with Family — Hiring (and Firing) Family Members in this month’s Feedlot magazine (pages 36, 38). It reminded me of the unique challenges that family businesses must face — whether it is a family farm/ranch or any other type of business. Intra-family dynamics can seriously affect the day-to-day operations of a family business and can impact hiring/firing decisions. It also reminded me of the blurry line between independent contractors, employees and general partners in family businesses (I will delve into this topic in a different post).
I suggest reading Mr. Tyler’s article regarding hiring and firing family members. I also suggest seeking counsel on employment law issues from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction to obtain advice specifically tailored to your situation. These types of issues also overlap with estate/succession planning for a farm or agri-business.
As an (slightly unrelated) aside, here is an interesting Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Economic Research Service (“ERS”) regarding the economics of U.S. family farms.
Comments 2
Thank you for recommending Mr. Tyler’s article; it was an interesting read that was relevant to all types of family businesses. It also brought to mind the complexities that arise among family members in other complicated legal situations. Whether a person is involved in a family business, participates in a real estate transaction with a family member, or borrows money from a family member, the family dimension can present challenges that affect any business relationship. People in such a situation may find it beneficial to consult an attorney who can help separate the personal family dynamics from the legal issues at hand.
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