Fellow FDs!

Just wanted to gauge my experience to see if this is a shared phenomenon throughout the industry.

Full disclosure, I have recently left at-need to work in pre-need because of these issues and it’s given me the balance I needed.

I am a 1st generation funeral director and had zero connections in the business, but got lucky working for a reputable funeral home in my hometown (which was a major metropolitan area). I went to school and continued to network, which opened doors all across the country. Literally to the point where I could throw a dart at a map and know that I had a connection in that state and potentially get a job there. We all know the FD market is gold right now anyway.

Since graduating mortuary school and becoming licensed, I have worked for 4 different family-owned funeral homes. I have been blown away by the lack of follow through on employment promises, outlined handbook procedures, lack of basic HR skills (usually no formal legit employment contracts at any of the firms), little respect for family life outside of work (unless you’re the owner), and (this is huge) underpaying staff for the massive workload.

Hear me out on the last point…at one firm, I (as one of 6 FDs) wrote over $1,000,000 in contracts, but I was only making $40,500/yr with no potential for a raise or earning overtime. Working 60 hrs a week. If you’re a FD, I bet you know the drill.

What has been your experience at family-owned firms as a non-family employee?