ESOP Foundation Blog | A Resource for the ESOP Community

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 for browsing and winners will be at the conference as another source of information.

If you would like additional information about the AACE Awards, please visit the website here, http://www.esopassociation.org/resources/resources_AACE.asp, or for information on the Annual Conference, click here http://www.esopassociation.org/meetings/meetings_annual_Conference.asp.

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...

Progress, But No Victory, No Let Up

This article originally ran as the Washington Report column in the March 2008 issue of the ESOP Report. We thought it was worth a reprint on the Employee Ownership Blog. It has been edited for space but the message is the same. For several months after the publication of the tax reform legislation introduced by the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Charles Rangel [D-NY] it seemed many ESOP company leaders felt its small provision on S ESOPs was not of any concern. There...

Does being an ESOP company increase productivity?

The 2007 Economic Performance Survey which was conducted by the Employee Ownership Foundation asked members of The ESOP Association this question about productivity - How has the ESOP affected overall productivity of employees? 68% of individuals that responded to the question said it increased productivity. In fact, this number has remained over 58% since 2000. Need less to say, this is not a scientific survey and is certainly only a sampling of ESOP companies but to say that...

Bear Stearns and Negative Media Coverage

Well, once again, Enron comparisons are running rampant. As you have probably heard, Bear Stearns, which is in the process of being acquired by JP Morgan Chase, had an ESOP. Bear Stearns' stock ownership among employees was no where near the level of Enron (estimates put the size of the ESOP around 3%), employees had much diversification in their primary retirement plan, a 401(k) plan, and the stock ownership was primarily among the top executives and senior executives. However,...

Does your company advertise that it is employee owned?

For many companies, every day is spent trying to decide how to properly market the company to customers, potential customers, employees, and shareholders. If you’re an employee owned company, does it change they way you describe your company? Does it change your advertising or marketing practices? In 2005, the ESOP Company Survey, which was done jointly by The ESOP Association and the Employee Ownership Foundation, asked companies if they advertise the fact they are employee...

Open Book Management – Does Your Company Practice?

In employee ownership circles, the term Open Book Management (OBM) is often discussed and there are numerous companies that incorporate the practice and theories into their workplaces. The theory behind OBM is that all employees are provided information on the financials so they can and, hopefully, will make better and more informed decisions as workers and in the case of an ESOP company, as owners. The employees are also provided with training so they can properly read and understand...

How Do You Motivate Employee Owners?

The ESOP Association recently released a new video, “Creating a High Performing Company,” and one of the topics discussed in the video is motivational techniques. Some companies offer prizes and gifts, and in the case of one company, a flat screen television for the person who suggested an improvement in a manufacturing process that saved the company money. Some companies recognize the work and contributions of employee owners at meetings, in company newsletters,...

British Parliament to Study Employee Ownership

Why aren’t we doing the same thing? According to the European Federation of Employee Share Ownership, the British Parliament has set up an “All Party Parliamentary Group on Employee Ownership” which will study employee ownership practices in the co-owned business sector. The group defines co-owned businesses as companies which own anything from a substantial minority to a controlling stake in the business. The group is seeking evidence on the following: productive...

Does Your Company Share Financial Information with Employee Owners?

It all comes down to dos and don’ts. Some do it, some don’t. But is there a happy medium? Is it important for employee owners to know the bottom line? Obviously handing a packet of financial information to a person will not help increase his or her interest level nor will it make him or her a more motivated worker. If he of she is like most people, they probably won’t have any idea as to what they are looking at. If a company is planning...

Do You Manage Your Culture?

Every company is different. It is the company and its employee owners that create and define the culture and norms of each particular company. Each culture has its own way and rate of maturing and while some are very organic, others take a bit of coaxing to get them moving. So the question before us is this – Can a culture, an ownership culture especially, be managed and should it be? You’ll probably find many different answers to this question. Many will...

Ownership Society Back in the News

It’s election time again, in fact, that’s all the media are talking about at the moment. Thanks to the upcoming election, the term “Ownership Society” has made its way back into the national lexicon. Yes, candidates once again wooing you for your vote are tossing about the term as a cure all for our nation’s healthcare system, retirement savings, and home ownership mortgage crisis. But does it mean anything to the employee ownership community this...

Why Aren’t ESOPs Growing Faster in the U.S.?

This is a popular question in the ESOP community and there are a number of answers. Some suggest the number of ESOPs is growing but the number of terminated ESOPs each year keeps the number steady, so while there is growth, there are enough terminations to keep everything in check. Others believe the growth has stagnated and that numbers have dropped slightly. In 2007, there were a number of news articles about newly created ESOPs and positive articles in trade publications...

Missions & Visions

The Employee Ownership Foundation's primary purpose is to support programs that will increase the level of awareness and appreciation of the benefits of employee ownership and increase the number of employees who have access to this benefit. The Mission statement of The ESOP Association is to educate and advocate about employee ownership with an emphasis on ESOPs. The Association’s Vision, which is a bit longer, reads: We believe that employee ownership improves...

Does Your Company Have a Communications Committee?

Each year the Economic Performance Survey (EPS), which is sponsored by the Employee Ownership Foundation, asks the question - Has your company created any employee participation programs since establishing the ESOP? In 2007, 53% responded no. In the employee ownership community this is a bit of a contentious question and here’s why. Some people strongly believe that in order for true ownership to take place, there needs to be a committee to help disseminate information,...

What’s Important to Your ESOP in 2008?

This time of year is rife with to do lists, and things not to miss in the New Year, so let’s add one more – What would you like to see happen in the ESOP community in 2008? Since we’re throwing out the question, it’s only right for us to start off the list: 1 – A meaningful discussion among members of Congress and the employee ownership community on how the new tax reform bill introduced by Congressman Charles Rangel, H.R. 3970, will hurt ESOPs. 2...

The ESOP Association Will Celebrate 30th Anniversary in 2008

In 2008, The ESOP Association will celebrate its 30th Anniversary helping create better and stronger ESOPs and spreading the message of employee ownership in America. To celebrate, a new logo has been specifically designed for use in 2008. The new logo incorporates the advocacy work and the Chapter program. For one year, it will replace the Association’s current logo. For additional information about The ESOP Association, its advocacy work, or Chapter program,...

Report on Reasons for ESOP Terminations Released

The Employee Ownership Foundation recently released a final report on the reasons why companies terminate ESOP plans. The report was completed in two phases and found that the most common reason for termination of an ESOP is acquisition of the ESOP company by new owners. The report was commissioned and funded by the Employee Ownership Foundation and conducted by the National Center for Employee Ownership in Oakland, CA. Phase I of the report found that while the most common...

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

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Progress, But No Victory, No Let Up

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Does being an ESOP company increase productivity?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Bear Stearns and Negative Media Coverage

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Does your company advertise that it is employee owned?

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Open Book Management – Does Your Company Practice?

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

How Do You Motivate Employee Owners?

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

British Parliament to Study Employee Ownership

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Does Your Company Share Financial Information with Employee Owners?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Do You Manage Your Culture?

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Ownership Society Back in the News

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Why Aren’t ESOPs Growing Faster in the U.S.?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Missions & Visions

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Does Your Company Have a Communications Committee?

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

What’s Important to Your ESOP in 2008?

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The ESOP Association Will Celebrate 30th Anniversary in 2008

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Report on Reasons for ESOP Terminations Released

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