Is Bambu responsible for directing a Bambu franchisee's employees?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee shall be exclusively responsible for recruiting, appointing, hiring, firing, and supervising its employees, independent agents, and Bambū Certified Team Leaders.
Those employees and agents will be employees or agents of Franchisee.
They are not employees or agents of Bambu and Bambu is not the joint employer of those persons.
Franchisee will have sole authority and control over the day-to-day operations of the Bambū shoppe and its employees and agents.
Bambu will have no right or obligation to direct Franchisee's employees and agents or to operate the Bambū shoppe.
It is Franchisee's responsibility to determine compensation of employees and agents, terms of employment, safety regulations, work assignments, work schedules, and working conditions.
Any information regarding any of those issues provided to Franchisee by Bambu are mere suggestions and Franchisee shall have the sole discretion to utilize such information or not.
Franchisee will keep Bambu informed of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all employees and agents.
Bambu reserves the right to require Franchisee, at Franchisee's expense, to purchase specified wearing apparel described in the FRC Materials from Suppliers approved by Bambu.
All Bambū Certified Team Leaders, employees of Franchisee, Franchisee and its owners, shall wear the specified wearing apparel at all times while working at the Franchised Location.
Bambu has the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change or modify such dress code guidelines.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is exclusively responsible for managing their employees. Bambu franchisees are in charge of recruiting, hiring, and supervising their own employees and agents, including Bambu Certified Team Leaders. These individuals are considered employees or agents of the franchisee, not of Bambu, and Bambu is not considered a joint employer. Franchisees have sole control over the daily operations of their Bambu location and its personnel.
Bambu has no authority or obligation to direct the franchisee's employees or agents, or to manage the Bambu shop. The franchisee is responsible for determining employee compensation, terms of employment, safety regulations, work assignments, schedules, and working conditions. Any information Bambu provides on these topics is considered a suggestion, and the franchisee has the discretion to use it or not.
Franchisees must keep Bambu informed of their employees' names, addresses, and phone numbers. Bambu can require franchisees to purchase specific apparel for their employees from approved suppliers at the franchisee's expense, and Bambu can modify the dress code guidelines. This arrangement is typical in franchising, where franchisees are independent business owners responsible for their own staff, but must adhere to brand standards set by the franchisor.