Employee Ownership Blog

At the National Employee-Owner Summit, we spent time with an amazing and diverse group of employee-owners from around the country. Here are three things we learned: (1) getting back together in person was powerful; (2) sharing challenges, not just successes, is valuable; and (3) diversity is one of our superpowers.

Launched in October 2021 (timed to coincide with Employee Ownership Month!), EO Equals is a research-backed national media campaign designed to expand the employee ownership movement. 

Newly updated state-by-state ESOP slides are now published in our members-only area, along with new industry-specific slides. These downloadable PowerPoint presentations are a member benefit breaking down the ESOP community in each state and industry.

On September 29, 2022, Givernor Newsom signed the California Employee Ownership Act. A broader version of the bill previously passed the Senate. The bill had unanimous support in both houses.

Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) have introduced S. 4623, the AGILE Procurement Act of 2022, which includes a provision to extend the pilot program established in the National Defense Authorization Act that allows 100% ESOP-owned companies to qualify for sole-source follow-on contracting with the Department of Defense.  

Congress has passed HR 4346, the CHIPS Act (previously called the America Competes Act), which now heads to the President for signature. The bipartisan bill is primarily designed to make it easier for American chip and other technology manufacturers to compete worldwide, but it also contains a pilot provision (Section 25B) that directs Manufacturing Extension Programs (MEPs) to provide awards for a variety of worker education and training programs, including employee ownership.

Robust and cohesive corporate governance is key to ensure that companies function effectively.

The House Appropriations Committee urged the SBA to fully implement the Main Street Employee Ownership Act (MSEOA), which was passed in 2018 but has seen only limited use because the SBA issued standard operating procedures that directly undermine the intent of the Act.

At an NCEO Innovative Communication Coalition network meeting on July 18, communication team leaders from a number of NCEO member companies discussed how they use skill assessments.

Massachusetts House Bill 5007, “An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth,” has passed the Massachusetts House without dissent.

Is employee assessment different in employee-owned companies than in traditional businesses?

Our ESOP Executive Compensation Survey is now collecting responses. Learn more and take the survey here.