Efforts to engage and inspire employees with gimmicky perks will result in very little if you get the company culture wrong.  Your Perks Aren’t Motivating Your Employees shares some examples of how management plans of kindness and good intentions often turn into perks to nowhere and lost capital.

We recently discussed how Selling to an ESOP Provides Greater Employment Stability and Increases Job Satisfaction.  It is important to note that job satisfaction is not signficantly impacted by employee ownership alone. Job satisfaction and employee engagement are driven by having a meaningful ownership stake AND active participation in the decision making process. The NCEO's Research on Employee Ownership and Corporate Performance reiterates the formula of OWNERSHIP + PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT = OWNERSHIP CULTURE: 

We have been discussing the benefits of Selling to an ESOP.  A review of existing research on ESOPs found that ESOP companies have greater employment stability.  The studies found that the average employee tenure was "significantly longer" than their non-ESOP counterparts and that firms were more likely to adjust wages than the number of employees.  It also found a mild increase in "job satisfaction, organizational commitment, identification, motivation, and workplace participation." 

We recently discussed the 2012 Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE).  Another ESOP award to consider applying for is The Employee Ownership Foundation Charles R. Edmunson Scholarship.  The application deadline is March 9, 2012.  Here is some additional information about the award: 

The introduction of the Iowa ESOP Initiative has resulted in a lot of positive ESOP news coverage for ESOP companies and the benefits of Selling to an ESOP.  Iowans benefit from employee stock ownership provides a first-hand look at Van Meter Industrial, one of Iowa’s successful ESOP-owned companies.  The article discusses the company's Ownership Culture and how the company has continued to thrive in the current economic environment:

The February 15, 2012 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:  

Iowa House approves bill encouraging formation of employee-owned companies discusses how the Iowa House passed Iowa House File 2284 (HF 2284), which was formerly Iowa House File 2085.  The bill now moves to the Iowa Senate.  

Legislation would encourage creation of more ESOP companies shares commentary from Van Meter and CarePro, two prominent Iowa ESOP companies, on Iowa House File 2085 – Iowa’s ESOP Initiative to promote Selling to an ESOP.  The article discusses the need for establishing incentives to Sell to an ESOP and how Selling to an ESOP Rewards Loyal Employees and Preserves the Company Legacy and Provides a Business Owner with Liquidity and Diversification: 

President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget of the U.S. Government provides a clarification on an ESOP tax issue:

The Employee Ownership Foundation issued a press release discussing the Findings of 2010 General Social Survey (GSS).  Overall the study found that ESOP and employee owned companies provide more sustainable employment, as employees were four times less likely to be laid off and were less likely to leave a company.  This helps illustrate why Selling to an ESOP Saves Local Jobs and Strengthens the Local Community:

The deadline for submissions for the 2012 Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE) is March 1, 2012.  Here is a listing of the 2011 AACE Award Winners and a link to photos and a brief description of the 2011 winners.  The ESOP Association site has additional resources and shares some tips for winning:

We have previously discussed the IRS 2010 401(k) Compliance Check Questionnaire that resulted in an IRS Audit for Plan Sponsors Who Didn't Complete the Questionnaire.  The IRS has published an interim report of the findings (Section 401(k) Compliance Check Questionnaire - Interim Report February 2012) and a chart of findings:

The February 1, 2012 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following: