PFunc Introduction

Message From Our CEO’s Desk

Anyone who has interacted with People Function has likely also seen two other Leedses in the business - my mom, Gail Leeds, our accountant, and my cousin Whitney Leeds, our virtual assistant and contracts manager. Is it nepotism? Maybe. But I like to see it as “tapping into a trusted, high-potential talent pool.” Over the years, I have also loved hiring consultants and friends whose skills were ignored by the corporate machine.

The key to doing this successfully is treating the hiring process with the same structure and rigor as any other. So, at a time when unemployment is at a four-year high and you’re heading into a family dinner, here’s my People Function Playbook for hiring your family and protecting the relationship and the business, without pissing off your colleagues:

1. Start With the Role, Not the Relationship. Define what the business actually needs. Create a real job description. The person has to match the skills, not the other way around. Don’t do anyone a “solid.” Only move forward if you genuinely believe they will help you with a specific need in your business or on your team.

2. Use a Mini-Hiring Process. This is not a handshake deal. Have a formal interview, ask for work examples, and loop in another team member for an unbiased perspective.

3. Set Expectations Up Front. Define responsibilities, market-rate compensation, and communication boundaries. Assumptions kill relationships. Having the hard conversation about boundaries before they start is crucial.

4. Hold Regular, Honest Check-Ins. Your personal relationship doesn't give you a pass on feedback. Give them the gift of direct, consistent 1-on1s. I am extremely open and honest with what I expect and what I need so they feel comfortable following suit. 

5. Agree on the “What If It Doesn’t Work Out?” Before they sign, agree that if the role stops being a fit for either side, you will both be honest. This is the most considerate conversation you can have. Clarity protects the relationship more than silence ever could. Whitney and I started off our engagement saying “let’s give it a shot,” knowing that if it didn’t work, we owed it to each other and our relationship to be honest. 

Hiring people you know and trust can be the most rewarding decision you make. Just make sure you build it on a foundation of intention, clarity, and real structure. I LOVE being able to give my cousin meaningful work, and her skillset, care, and attention-to-detail is adding a ton of value. My mom has been my accountant from Day 1. Her watching my company grow firsthand (from $0 in profit when she was very worried…) to today has been nothing short of amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even now as we bring in a legitimate finance and accounting firm, she is sticking around. 

So, cheers to the holidays. Cheers to funky family relationships and blurred boundaries. Complexity sometimes makes life beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 

And an extra thank you to my mom and cuz for everything you do for me and our team. I love you both!!

—Emma
CEO & Founder, People Function

ICYMI Compliance Tips

Below are some of the latest HR regulatory and compliance updates, published within the last month.

• Pennsylvania, (eff. 12/23/2025) - Chester County’s ordinance, which aims to strengthen protections for job seekers by ensuring equal opportunity in employment, housing, and public accommodations, goes into effect next month.

• Minnesota, (eff. 12/31/2025) - A new ordinance updates paid sick leave rules with several key changes, including clarifying who qualifies as an employee, expanding the definition of “family member,” and removing the 90-day waiting period to use sick time.

On the PFunc Market

Here’s what’s happening in the PFunc ecosystem. ⋒

Talent Spotlight

A fantastic, vetted candidate is actively seeking new roles and consulting opportunities. Reach out directly or reply here to learn more!

Shirra Preval, People Partner and HR Leader - Shirra began her career in Talent at a Fortune 500 company before moving into startups, where she led high-growth people operations and built people functions from the ground up in fast-paced environments. Those experiences deepened her love for varied, team-specific problem solving and inspired her path into people consulting. Reach out to us or Shirra directly to connect.

Exploring new opportunities in HR, People Operations, Business Operations, or Executive Leadership? Submit your information here to be featured in our “Talent Spotlight” section.

PFunc News

Here’s what’s happening at People Function.

Team Member Spotlight  

People Function is growing! Please join our talent community to be the first to learn about open roles.

Highlights ✨ 

The holidays are here, but we’re not slowing down at PFunc! Here’s what’s been happening.

PFunc finally played hooky 😎 - As you might be remember, last month’s outing was canceled, but the sun showed up for our rescheduled one! Thanks to Newfront, Emma and Adriana spent a Friday exploring Blue Hill Farm in Tarrytown and a great spot in Sleepy Hollow. They were joined by Matt and Adam from Newfront, Khalia from YipitData, Amy from ResortPass, and a few others. (Keep an eye on future newsletters if you don’t want to miss out on our next excursion in the new year - details TBD!)