(f) Definitions--

Most Popular Employee Learning Tools for Small Business shares 11 employee development tools employed by the 2011 Top Small Company Workplace applicants:

Most Popular Flexible Work Practices for Small Business shares 7 flexible work practices employed by the 2011 Top Small Company Workplace applicants:

Most Popular Employee Recognition Practices for Small Business shares 7 employee recognition practices employed by the 2011 Top Small Company Workplace applicants (in the order of popularity):

The February 15, 2011 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:

• Organizes Your Thoughts -- Preparing an entry forces you to organize your program for review by the judges.
  
• Helps you review -- As you put together your entry, you can get a good overview of your program.
  
• Helps you evaluate -- Once your program is organized, you can evaluate it in the light of what the judges will look for, and what they are likely to see from other companies.
  
• Generates new ideas -- As you organize your program for entry, new ideas come to you for augmenting and improving it.
  
• Shares your ideas -- Your entry will be displayed at the Annual Conference in May so that other ESOP companies can see what has worked for you.
  
• Creates an archive -- You'll be able to look back and determine direction, growth and results.

• ESOP Company of the Year and ESOP Employee Owner of the Year (varies by state, contact your state chapter for details)
  
• Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE) (March 1, 2011 deadline, this post provides reasons why your company should enter)
  
• Charles R. Edmunson Scholarship (March 11, 2011 deadline)
  
• Top Small Company Workplace
  
• The Innovations in Employee Ownership Award

If you are aware of any other relevant awards, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

The February 1, 2011 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:

Today is the deadline to submit comments on the proposed DOL regulations. I hope that every ESOP company and professional will make time to submit comments. Even if you can only find 5-10 minutes, please take the time to write an email to let the DOL know how ESOPs will be negatively impacted by the proposed regulations. You can submit comments by e-mail to e-ORI@dol.gov, subject line: Definition of Fiduciary Proposed Rule, or by using the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

From: Aaron Juckett
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 10:33 AM
To: 'e-ORI@dol.gov'
Subject: Definition of Fiduciary Proposed Rule

The American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) has submitted their comments and recommend that appraisals and fairness opinions be exempt from the proposed DOL regulations "due to the likelihood of added costs to plans and plan participants and the potential chilling effect on the availability of these services." While the organization is providing commentary on the broader range of issues covered in the regulations, they make a great point that impacts the portion of the regulation that applies to ESOP appraisals. The Constitution grants the Legislative Branch, specifically Congress, the sole authority to enact legislation. The comments specifically note that Congress has specifically chosen to NOT include independent appraisers as fiduciaries:

The ESOP Association has submitted their comments on the proposed DOL regulations. The comments are organized as follows: