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
CERO: Closing the Food Loop
African American and Latinx worker coop collects and processes food waste, which it then delivers to local urban farms.
Could COVID-19 help to scale employee ownership?
Employee-purchasers are well-positioned to buy firms out of bankruptcy.
Continue Reading Could COVID-19 help to scale employee ownership?
California Employee Ownership Alliance Proposes $10M Recovery Package
The WORC Coalition urges Californians to contact their legislators before the June 15 budget vote.
Continue Reading California Employee Ownership Alliance Proposes $10M Recovery Package
Employee Ownership Key to Survival of America’s Oldest Hat Company
Bollman Hat Company turns to mask making to bring its factory back to life.
Continue Reading Employee Ownership Key to Survival of America’s Oldest Hat Company
Save Local Businesses, Scale Employee Ownership
Local Economy Preservation Funds offer solution to the small business crisis.
Continue Reading Save Local Businesses, Scale Employee Ownership
It’s Time to Reconsider Bankruptcy Protections for ESOP Participants
Employee owners at ESOPs shouldn’t lose their retirement savings.
Continue Reading It’s Time to Reconsider Bankruptcy Protections for ESOP Participants
Building the Future with Employee Ownership
Tim Rettig, CEO of InTrust IT, has plans to grow employee ownership sector.
Continue Reading Building the Future with Employee Ownership
Employee-owned NewAge Industries Meets the COVID-19 Challenge
An employee-ownership culture drives high-performance in a critical industry
Continue Reading Employee-owned NewAge Industries Meets the COVID-19 Challenge
How employee-owned firms are managing the COVID-19 Crisis
Five lessons on how to keep your firm strong and nimble.
Continue Reading How employee-owned firms are managing the COVID-19 Crisis
“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.
