October is ESOP Employee Ownership Month (EOM)

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The ESOP Association issued a press release announcing October is ESOP Employee Ownership Month (EOM) and recapping some of the results of the 21st Annual ESOP Economic Performance Survey (EPS).

Employee Ownership Community Celebrates Employee Ownership Month

October 1, 2012 (Washington, DC) – The ESOP Association and its members will celebrate Employee Ownership Month this October, which is a tribute to the tremendous spirit of employee ownership.

Employee Ownership Month is an opportunity for ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) companies across the nation to educate employee owners, the public, and government officials about the undeniable benefits of employee ownership for employees, their companies, the communities they are a part of, and the nation. For more information about Employee Ownership Month, please visit:http://www.esopassociation.org/resources/resources_month.asp.

“I am pleased to announce the start of Employee Ownership Month,” said ESOP Association President J. Michael Keeling. “For over 20 years, our members have been working to promote employee ownership and its benefits every day and deserve to be honored for their efforts.”

Facts about employee ownership in the U.S.:

• There are approximately 10,000 ESOPs in place in the U.S., covering 10.3 million employees (approximately 10% of the private sector workforce).

• The 21st Annual Economic Performance Survey conducted in 2012 by the Employee Ownership Foundation found: 

• 93.3% of survey respondents reported that creating employee ownership through an ESOP was ‘a good business decision that has helped the company.’ 

• 63.8% of companies indicated they have created an ESOP education program or ESOP advisory committee since establishing the ESOP.
  

• 76% of respondents indicated the ESOP positively affected the overall productivity of the employees.

Here are some ESOP Employee Ownership Month ideas: 

• A common theme amongst the various celebrations is free food. You cannot go wrong by providing your employees with a free meal. In addition to providing them with a relatively inexpensive reward, it also provides an opportunity for the team to gather and socialize.  Make sure to add an ESOP theme to your party, company picnic, or brown bag lunch.

• Have fun with games and educational events related to the ESOP.  Ideas include sports days, game shows, costume events, ESOP puzzles, etc.

• Create a theme for your events.  Halloween is a common theme used by companies.

• Conduct an internal Poster Contest, keeping in mind the National Employee Ownership Month Poster Contest and some of the 2012 entries.  

  

• Raise money for the Employee Ownership Foundation or a local charity by having a food drive, silent auction, raffles, rummage sale, or similar event.

• Involve your Governor or local representatives.  For example, one company contacted their Governor and they Issued an ESOP Proclamation Observing October as Employee Ownership Month. 

ESOP Association President J. Michael Keeling has shared a message on Employee Ownership Month, noting that ESOP Employee Ownership Month is a time for celebration and reflection: