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
In Brief: Employee Ownership News Updates
Maine passes legislation, Txemi Cantera Award honors Great Game, and foundations show interest in supporting employee ownership
Evergreen’s Fund for Employee Ownership Acquires Berry Insulation
After sale to employees, business founder will stay on to ensure success of future cooperative.
Continue Reading Evergreen’s Fund for Employee Ownership Acquires Berry Insulation
Access to SBA Loans Could Help Employees Buy Their Companies
Employee ownership deals hindered by SBA rule that puts seller debt on standby by Bruce Dobb The largest source of financing for the sale of small, low-margin businesses that drive local economies are bank loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). However, these loans don’t work very well for workers who want to buy their…
Continue Reading Access to SBA Loans Could Help Employees Buy Their Companies
Accelerate Employee Ownership Initiative Addresses Capital Bottleneck
Project Equity and Shared Capital Cooperative partnership brings financing and technical support to employee ownership transitions
Continue Reading Accelerate Employee Ownership Initiative Addresses Capital Bottleneck
Home Care Cooperatives Gaining Ground in the Northwest
Northwest Cooperative Development Center hopes to transform an industry.
Continue Reading Home Care Cooperatives Gaining Ground in the Northwest
Worker Co-ops Show Significant Growth in Latest Survey Data
New report from Democracy at Work Institute and U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives gives rich picture of state of sector.
Continue Reading Worker Co-ops Show Significant Growth in Latest Survey Data
House of Representatives Small Business Committee Convenes Employee Ownership Hearing
Witnesses addressed financing challenges and solutions.
Out of the ClickHole, a light on alternative media ownership models
Employee ownership offers potential alternative to media companies seeking to retain journalistic integrity .
Continue Reading Out of the ClickHole, a light on alternative media ownership models
“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.
