Equity at Work | Worker-Centered EO Development
Employee ownership is more than a financial model—it’s a shift in power that transforms the workplace and communities. In this edition, we’re highlighting new research on its economic impact, an upcoming forum on worker ownership, and fresh insights into how communities can expand access to cooperative models. Plus, don’t miss the story of Trident Booksellers & Cafe, a local business redefining ownership in Colorado.
News
Study on Employee Ownership and its economic impact on workers: The team at Worker Equity Lab is recruiting people who work for an employee-owned company in Colorado to participate in a study. If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out this form.
Employee Ownership Ideas Forum: The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University announced the third Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, a two-day in-person (by invite only) and virtual event in Washington DC on April 9 and 10, 2025. This year’s forum, “From Workers to Owners”, will highlight how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. Register for the virtual event here.
Ideas
A recent article by the folks from the Democracy at Work Institute discusses how communities can expand access to the benefits of worker ownership, by employing an ecosystem approach to support cooperative growth and success. Read the article here.
To understand the value and possibility at the core of employee ownership, it’s helpful to consider what ownership itself means in the context of our current culture. This Worker Equity Lab post covers how the psychological impacts of ownership shape people’s lives. Read the post.
Featured Company
The Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center recently published a profile of Trident Booksellers & Cafe. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Trident has created its own version of employee ownership where 20 of the 26 workers own at least 1 share (or “capital interest unit”) in the LLC, making it one of the few businesses to use the “Alternative Equity Structures” (AES) form of employee ownership in Colorado. Read more about their structure and experience here.