Fifty by Fifty is catalyzing a movement to scale up employee ownership
Our goal: 50 million employee owners in the US by 2050
An initiative of The Democracy Collaborative, Fifty by Fifty is aimed at creating a more inclusive economy through employee ownership. Our goal is to catalyze a movement with the knowledge, resources, and skills to grow the number of employee owners in the U.S. to 50 million Americans by 2050.
The latest employee ownership news
Illinois 14th State to Legally Recognize Worker Cooperatives
New statute will make it easier to launch and grow worker cooperatives.
Continue Reading Illinois 14th State to Legally Recognize Worker Cooperatives
Employee Ownership Rarely Integrated into MBA Programs
Employee ownership makes stakeholder capitalism real,
says Marjorie Kelly in the Boston Globe.
Continue Reading Employee Ownership Rarely Integrated into MBA Programs
Models for Taking Cooperatives to Scale
A typology of cooperative networks and associations can help cooperatives think about how to scale and maintain their values.
Kendeda Fund Announces Plan to Invest over $24 Million in Expanding Employee Ownership
Grants will catalyze at least 100 employee ownership conversions over five years.
Big Business Rethinks Shareholder Primacy
Business Roundtable statement kicks off robust debate on purpose of the corporation.
The Role of Employee Ownership in an Economy that Works for All
Marjorie Kelly and Ted Howard highlight movement for a democratic economy.
Continue Reading The Role of Employee Ownership in an Economy that Works for All
Government Contracting Preferences Pose Barrier to Scaling Employee Ownership
An ESOP trust doesn’t qualify as a minority-owned business.
Continue Reading Government Contracting Preferences Pose Barrier to Scaling Employee Ownership
Role of Capital in Taking Employee Ownership to Scale
At the Beyster Symposium, Fifty by Fifty panel explored a new financing model to scale employee ownership.
Continue Reading Role of Capital in Taking Employee Ownership to Scale
Can Worker Cooperatives Transform the Commercial Laundry Business?
Evergreen Cooperatives plans expansion of its laundry co-op model to New Haven and other cities.
Continue Reading Can Worker Cooperatives Transform the Commercial Laundry Business?
“It takes a job to get out of poverty but it takes assets to stay out of poverty. Ownership shares increase in value over time, generating wealth and security.”
—Fifty by Fifty cofounder Marjorie Kelly
Employee ownership offers a solution to the vast income and wealth inequality that is undermining America’s economy.
GOOD FOR EMPLOYEES
- WAGES: Employee owners earn average wages 5 to 12 percent higher than employees in conventional firms.
- WEALTH: The net worth of employee owners aged 28 to 34 is 92 percent higher than for non-employee owners.
- RETIREMENT SAVINGS: The average retirement savings for an ESOP employee is $170,000, twice the national average.
GOOD FOR BUSINESS
- TURNOVER: Employee engagement is higher and turnover is lower at employee-owned companies.
- GROWTH: Transitions to employee ownership increase productivity by more than 4 percent.
- STABILITY: Employee owners are one-fourth as likely to be laid off and their companies go bankrupt less frequently.
GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES
- JOBS: Employee ownership saves local jobs, because companies that are owned by their employees are far less likely to leave their communities.
- LOCAL WEALTH: Employee ownership keeps wealth circulating in local communities.
GOOD FOR OWNERS
- LEGACY: When business owners sell their businesses to their employees, they can keep their legacy alive for generations to come.
- SAVINGS: Entrepreneurs and family owners can realize the value the business has built while enjoying substantial tax savings.
- RESPONSIBILITY: Business founders and families can find ready buyers in employees, avoiding sale to those who would dismantle the business.
