Thank you Heather for sharing your experiences.  My goal is not to put a damper on family-like feeling, and all the benefits of it in a work experience.

I too have had experiences like you described here: "...the organization I have worked with for the past five years *is* like a family – we respect, care for and support one another professionally and personally. We call each other ‘work family’ and there is nothing any of us wouldn’t do – and have done – to help each other at work or at home."

You summed it up with this, which is why we are all here at LeadChange: <b>"I believe it comes down to leadership."</b>

Thank you again for your comments.  Mary