Is Engel & Volkers a party to the employment contracts between the franchisee and its staff?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
r other appropriate license, if and as required by applicable law, rules or regulations. These employees, contractors, and Sales Advisors must have attended an appropriate training course conducted by Franchisor and have passed related tests. Franchisee is responsible for ensuring that its real estate brokerage is open during local normal business hours for residential real estate brokerages. Franchisee shall be responsible for ensuring that its obligations under this Agreement are observed by its employees,
contractors, and Sales Advisors. Franchisee understands and agrees that Franchisor is not a party to Franchisee's employment contracts (neither as sole, nor as a joint employer) with its own staff and Sales Advisors, and Franchisee shall be solely liable for fulfillment of these contracts in every respect (e.g., deduction and remittance of income taxes, social security contributions, etc.). None of Franchisee's employees, contractors or Sales Advisors will be considered to be Franchisor's employees and Franchisee acknowledges that Franchisor is not in a position to exercise control over Franchisee's employees, contractors or Sales Advisors. Neither Franchisee nor any of its employees, contractors or Sales Advisors whose compensation it pays may in any way, directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, be construed to be Franchisor's employee for any purpose, including with respect to any mandated or other insurance coverage, tax or contributions, or requirements pertaining to withholdings, levied or fixed by any city, state or federal governmental agency. Franchisee expressly agrees, and will never contend otherwise, that Franchisor's authority under this Agreement to certify certain of Franchisee's employees, contractors or Sales Advisors for qualification to perform certain functions for Franchisee's franchised Business does not directly or indirectly vest in Franchisor the power to hire, fire or control any such employee, contractor or Sales Advisor.
- 6.3 Franchisee acknowledges and agrees, and will never contend otherwise, that Franchisee alone will exercise day-to-day control over all operations, activities and elements of its franchised Business hereunder and that under no circumstance shall Franchisor do so or be deemed to do so. Franchisee further acknowledges and agrees, and will never contend otherwise, that the various requirements, restrictions, prohibitions, specifications and procedures of the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System which Franchisee is required to comply with under this Agreement, whether set forth in the System Documentation or otherwise, do not directly or indirectly constitute, suggest, infer or imply that Franchisor controls any aspect or element of the day-to-day operations of Franchisee's franchised Business, which Franchisee alone controls, but only constitute standards Franchisee must adhere to when exercising Franchisee's control of the day-to-day operations of its franchised Business.
- 6.4 Franchisee may not, without Franchisor's prior, express, written approval, obligate Franchisor for any expenses, liabilities or other obligations, other than as specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, Franchisor may not control or have access to Franchisee's funds or the expenditure of Franchisee's funds or in any other way exercise dominion or control over Franchisee's business. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by this Agreement, neither party will make any express or implied agreements, warranties, guarantees or representations or incur any debt in the name of or on behalf of the other party, or represent that the relationship between Franchisor and Franchisee is other than that of franchisor and franchisee.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 88)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Engel & Volkers is not a party to the employment contracts between the franchisee and its staff and sales advisors. The franchisee acknowledges and agrees that Engel & Volkers is not a joint employer and is not liable for the fulfillment of these contracts. This includes the deduction and remittance of income taxes and social security contributions. The franchisee is solely responsible for all employment-related obligations. Engel & Volkers is not in a position to exercise control over the franchisee's employees, contractors, or sales advisors.
This means that as a franchisee, you have the exclusive right to hire, set schedules, establish compensation rates, and handle all employment-related liabilities, including workers' compensation, payroll taxes, and social security contributions. You also have the sole ability to discipline or terminate employees. Any recommendations from Engel & Volkers regarding salaries or wages are merely suggestions, and you are free to disregard them.
Furthermore, the franchisee agrees to assist Engel & Volkers in defending against any claims that Engel & Volkers is the employer or joint employer of the franchisee's employees or contractors. This includes appearing at venues requested by Engel & Volkers to testify on their behalf and submitting to depositions or preparing affidavits. If the franchisee's appearance is required in an investigation where Engel & Volkers is the only named party, Engel & Volkers will cover the reasonable costs associated with the franchisee's appearance, including travel, lodging, meals, and per diem salary or other compensation, if applicable.
This arrangement is typical in franchising, where franchisees are considered independent contractors responsible for managing their own staff. This independence allows franchisees to tailor their employment practices to local market conditions and individual business needs, while Engel & Volkers maintains brand standards and provides support without directly controlling day-to-day operations.