ESOP Foundation Blog | A Resource for the ESOP Community

Employee Ownership and Morale

Times are tough for a lot of companies today and many are making radical changes to make sure they pull through. Programs are being cut back and staff members are being asked to do more with less.

During these times, are you doing anything to increase morale? Are there more meetings to let employee owners know what is going on and how decisions are being made? Is management asking for ideas to help make things more efficient during the economic downturn which we seem to be shaping up for?

Every company handles communication efforts differently and some increase efforts to share information with employee owners as well as customers. The theory behind this thought being - informed employee owners and customers are better employee owners and customers. If your employee owners understand the implications better, does it increase morale?

What are your thoughts?

Economy – How is it impacting your company?

One can’t pick up a paper or turn on the television these days without seeing something about the economy. Gas prices are high, unemployment rates are on the rise, companies are increasing layoffs, and food prices are creeping ever upward. How is your company being affected? Has it changed the way you do business? Are you cutting back on things that have always been a constant? The more important question here is – has the ESOP made a difference? There...

Employee Ownership Month 2008

Get Your Press & Event Planning Kit Today What Will YOU Be Doing? Every October, for over 20 years, The ESOP Association and its members have been celebrating Employee Ownership Month (EOM). Each summer, the Press & Event Planning Kit, which highlights EOM activities of members, is sent to all corporate members of the Association to help in planning events. This year, it will once again be shared with the community, but with a twist. This year the Press...

Future of ESOPs

What does the future hold for ESOPs? A recent issue of the ESOP Report magazine asked readers to share a few insights on the future. Answers were wide ranging and quite thoughtful. Here are a few: With the global economy, business practices are changing fast and companies that have an advantage over their competitors are going to flourish. An ESOP will be a competitive edge. With education of business leaders and owners, we will begin to see more ESOP companies...

Do You Really Know Who Supports Employee Stock Ownership?

The now famous Texas Congressman Ron Paul [R-TX] has consistently put his name on the line for employee stock ownership since he came to Congress in 1989. Most recently, he signed on to H.R. 6419 by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher [R-CA] that essentially would make broad based stock compensation plans tax free. Among insiders who keep track of those that support ESOPs and employee stock ownership, there is no doubt where Congressman Paul stands. But there is a great deal of confusion...

Steve Sheppard on the Road for Employee Ownership

As part of the ESOP Outreach Program, Steve Sheppard frequently speaks to ESOP companies on how to harness to the power of employee ownership. Now, in partnership with the Employee Ownership Foundation, Steve is scheduling speaking engagements with business leaders and opinion makers who are not aware of the transformational power of employee ownership through an ESOP. Steve, former CEO of the employee-owned Foldcraft Company in Kenyon, Minnesota, will travel the U.S. speaking...

August Recess is Approaching - Time to Setup a Meeting with Your Member of Congress

August means one thing in Washington, DC – summer recess for members of Congress. In August, every member decamps for home and this is a great time to setup meetings and invite your member of Congress to visit your company. There’s no greater way to show a member the power of an ESOP than to have he or she visit your company and see firsthand. If you would like information on how to setup a meeting, visit The ESOP Association’s website and download a...

Presidential Candidates and ESOPs

As the Presidential Campaign unfolds, many ESOP advocates have asked about the nominees’ position on ESOPs. We do not have a written statement or any other evidence from Senator John McCain on his view of employee ownership through ESOPs, but we do have a 2005 letter from Senator Barack Obama which we have posted below. The letter was written to several of The ESOP Association’s members in Illinois, when they wrote to him asking that he co-sponsor Senator Blanche Lincoln’s...

Winning AACE Award Video Available on Website

The 2008 winning AACE Award Audio Visual winner is now available for viewing on The ESOP Association’s website – http://www.esopassociation.org/resources/resources_AACE_past_winners.asp. The winning video by Harrell Remodeling, Inc. of Mountain View California, impressed judges with its practicality, fun attitude, and clear ESOP message. It showcases the company’s teamwork, dedication, and never give up attitude. Take a look for yourself.

New Research Confirms Majority-Owned ESOPs More Productive Than Non-ESOP Counterparts

Recent research by Brent Kramer, a doctoral candidate at the City University of New York, “provides strong evidence that majority employee-owned businesses have a significant advantage over comparable traditionally-owned businesses in sales per employee.” The average advantage, $44,500, means that a typical 200 person ESOP firm could be expected to have an almost $9 million annual sales advantage over its non-ESOP counterpart. Sales per employee is the total of a company’s...

Communications Programs

We’ve discussed communications programs before in this space but as a follow up to the AACE Awards posting a few weeks ago, we thought it might be a good time to bring it up again. The AACE Awards recognize the outstanding communications programs of ESOP Association members. (If you would like more information about the program, visit the Association’s website http://www.esopassociation.org/resources/resources_AACE.asp.) Every entry exemplifies the commitment...

The New York Times Article Continued

Below are a few of the letters to the editor that members of The ESOP Association shared with the Association. We know many people sent letters and we appreciate their efforts. Below is just sampling of what was shared with the Association. If you would like to read The New York Times article it can be found here - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/business/29sugar.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=us+sugar&st=nyt&oref=slogin. __________ Dear Editor: The...

The New York Times Attacks ESOPs

We bring your attention to a front page, long, very negative article on ESOPs in the May 29, 2008 edition of The New York Times, page 1, jump page A23, online -http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/business/29sugar.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin This story is potentially the most damaging we have seen for a very long time. ESOP Association President, J. Michael Keeling sent a letter the editor, which is posted below. The article states that “employees are being cheated...

Sustainability of ESOP Companies Debate Intensifies

When the oldest ESOP companies were ten years old at best in the mid-80s, or even 15 years old in the early 90s, the word “sustainability” was not in the lexicon of the ESOP community. Beginning about four to five years ago at The ESOP Association’s New England Chapter meetings that were retreats for Board members, or CEOs of New England ESOP companies, several participants were surprised when other business leaders put this topic on the table—why are so many ESOPs...

Teaching Employee Ownership

The Employee Ownership Foundation and the Foundation for Enterprise Development Fund Aspen Institute’s Work on Broad Dissemination of Employee Ownership Teaching Materials to Business Educators The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. As part of the Institute’s Business and Society Program, the Center for Business Education (CBE) maintains close ties with major MBA programs in 23...

Congratulations to the 2008 AACE Award Winners

While the AACE (Annual Awards for Communications Excellence) Awards are primarily an ESOP Association program, we did want to take a minute to congratulate this year’s winners on a job well done. Category 1-A, Total Communications Program, 100 or fewer employees Winner: Sebago Technics, Inc., Westbrook, ME Runner Up: Worm’s Way, Inc., Bloomington, IN Category 1-B, Total Communications Program, 101 - 500 employees Winner: MidSouth Building Supply, Inc., Springfield,...

Come See the AACE Winners

The 2008 AACE Award winners will once again be featured at The ESOP Association’s Annual Conference in Washington, DC, May 13 & 14, 2008. There’s no better way to understand a communications program than to talk to the people who run them. If your company is looking for ways to increase communications or to get employee owners involved, the AACE Awards could be your answer. The Annual Conference features a large exhibit of the AACE entries which are available...

House Resolution Supporting Employee Ownership Through ESOPs Introduced

The ESOP Association Applauds Introduction of Resolution Supporting Employee Ownership through ESOPs by Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and Dana Rohrabacher Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced on April 24, 2008 House Concurrent Resolution 333, which expresses continued support for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) in the U.S. J. Michael Keeling, President of The ESOP Association, had this to say about the Resolution: “I welcome the...

ESOP Association Members Honored with Silver ESOP Award

Earlier this month, The ESOP Association presented 129 corporate members of the Association with a Silver ESOP Award to recognize their work in sustaining their ESOP for 25 years or more. J. Michael Keeling, President of The ESOP Association stated, “I am very pleased to be able to present these companies with the Silver ESOP Award for their work to sustain their ESOP. We are working with our members to promote the ideals of employee ownership and to increase the number...

S. 1322 - The ESOP Promotion & Improvement Act of 2007

Now is the time to act! The ESOP Promotion and Improvement Act of 2007 was introduced earlier this year by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) of Arkansas. Now is the time to contact your Senators and talk to them about this legislation. In light of the legislation introduced by Representative Charles Rangel, now is the time to reach out to your member of Congress. Contact their office and ask to arrange a visit to your company. If you can’t arrange a visit...

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Employee Ownership and Morale

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Economy – How is it impacting your company?

Monday, August 11, 2008

Employee Ownership Month 2008

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Future of ESOPs

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Do You Really Know Who Supports Employee Stock Ownership?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Steve Sheppard on the Road for Employee Ownership

Thursday, July 17, 2008

August Recess is Approaching - Time to Setup a Meeting with Your Member of Congress

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Presidential Candidates and ESOPs

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Winning AACE Award Video Available on Website

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

New Research Confirms Majority-Owned ESOPs More Productive Than Non-ESOP Counterparts

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Communications Programs

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

The New York Times Article Continued

Friday, May 30, 2008

The New York Times Attacks ESOPs

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sustainability of ESOP Companies Debate Intensifies

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Teaching Employee Ownership

Friday, May 16, 2008

Congratulations to the 2008 AACE Award Winners

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Come See the AACE Winners

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

House Resolution Supporting Employee Ownership Through ESOPs Introduced

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

ESOP Association Members Honored with Silver ESOP Award

Friday, April 18, 2008

S. 1322 - The ESOP Promotion & Improvement Act of 2007

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