Can a Co-op business model help your business grow and offer financial security to your employees?
This Queer Money podcast features Annie Winkler discussing the benefits of employee ownership. Annie shares how part-ownership boosts productivity, job satisfaction, and LGBTQ generational wealth. They recount their experience turning Real Pickles into a worker-owned co-op and compare co-ops to ESOPs. The episode also explores the advantages for business owners planning succession and employees seeking deeper workplace investments.
Topics covered about turning your business into a co-op:
00:00 Introduction to Bare Minimum Mondays and Lazy Fridays
00:10 The Concept of Employee Ownership
00:28 Introducing Annie Winkler and Queerness in Business
00:53 Welcome to the Queer Money Podcast
01:52 Discussion on Pronouns and Non-Binary Identity
02:30 Exploring Employee Stock Purchase Plans
02:53 Challenges Faced by Employees Today
04:41 The Impact of Baby Boomers on the Economy
05:23 Statistics on Baby Boomers and Retirement
06:47 The Role of Wealth and Power in Employment
07:43 Annie Winkler’s Journey to Employee Ownership
08:40 The Real Pickles Cooperative Experience
12:08 The Benefits of Worker-Owned Cooperatives
17:07 Comparing ESOPs and Worker Co-ops
20:25 Challenges and Benefits of Employee Ownership
26:09 Legacy Planning for Business Owners
29:57 Introduction to ESOPs
30:29 Trust and Control in ESOPs
31:41 Ownership and Leadership Transitions
32:57 Optimal Company Size for ESOPs and Co-ops
34:27 Financial Considerations and Valuation
35:41 Starting the Transition to Employee Ownership
41:53 Generational Wealth and Queer Community
48:03 VEOC and Employee Ownership Support
50:36 Dragon Boat Team and Personal Joys
52:35 Conclusion and Resources
