Swapping Desks | Media
Swapping Desks
Phone: +61 408 209 356
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23.01.2022 A Co-operative is like an empty bucket, - what you put in is what you get out of it. Start with your strengths and assets.
21.01.2022 Timing is right for employee ownership and worker-cooperatives! We need to rebuild our businesses across our nation with a focus on cooperation and community well-being. Lack of awareness is the biggest hurdle for the startup or conversion of businesses to employee-owned cooperatives. Cooperatives are people-centred not capital centred. We cooperate for mutual benefit in our employee-owned businesses.... In a worker cooperative, we share realization with everyone, so they get what it is all about. This is done through regular meetings and shared decision making. We share the burden of running the business. It's not just one person's problem. Its easier working with the younger members as they are generally more cooperative. There is a close or equal wage structure. The gap between the highest and lowest paid is often only x 2. Loud voices don't always get their way. The introverts can bring change as well. Working hours are often flexible to suit each member with, e.g. agreed maximum and a minimum number of working hours. In tough times we share and understand each other's needs and implement productivity and innovation to survive. Productivity could be adding value to our service or product or by providing improved customer service. Community Wealth Building happens due to productivity and innovations. Consider a worker cooperative and get in touch to learn more. #employeeownership # workercooperatives # swappingdesks #communitywealthbuilding See more
18.01.2022 Impact of employee ownership The evidence of the impact of employee ownership on performance is overwhelmingly positive. The clearest evidence is for smaller firms, firms with larger employee ownership stakes, and in studies over longer time horizons. Employee owned firms tend to be more productive, have higher employee engagement along factors like rewards sharing, job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and motivation which is reflected in higher retention and lower... absenteeism. Employee owned business are more resilient in crises and appear to have a positive impact in the wider community. This evidence has salience in the current economic climate. The economy is increasingly shifting from manufacturing to services. The increasing shift involves the development of firms with greater focus on human capital though the attraction, development, and retention of talent all of which are positively influenced by models of employee ownership. Increasing uncertainty due to economic crises and COVID-19 calls for the development of more resilient businesses and communities both of which are better supported by employee ownership models. While the general awareness of employee ownership models is improving, complexities involved in transitioning appears to be a significant hurdle. This can be more actively addressed through the combined work of policy makers and employee ownership champions in generating awareness, providing incentives, and creating best practices. Summary from the 112 page report (with COVID-19 added) The Ownership Effect Inquiry Final Evidence Report June 2018 in the UK #employeeownership #cooperatives #SMEsuccession #swappingdesks See more
18.01.2022 Damon Horrill has some interesting points to make about employee-ownership and how it has helped during COVID-19
16.01.2022 Legislation once again is being a barrier to employee ownership. Today I received news that worker directors in an employee-owned cooperative were unable to receive their employee entitlements and redundancies money if in excess of $2,000. FEGs has notified these worker Directors whom appealed to a previous rejected decision by FEGs that their entitlements have been rejected again. They have lost their holiday pay, LSS and redundancy entitlements. One member loosing over $3...0k The employees and directors, a fourth year apprentice, a delivery driver and an estimator tradesman who worked 38 hrs a week in a workers cooperative that recently went into voluntary administration and liquidation due to these unfortunate times. They had volunteered to help their workmates by becoming directors as required by NSW Fair Trading and the National Cooperative Legislation. You might say they should have known the risks of volunteering and being voted in as a director. But how many directors know they loose their holiday pay, LSL and any other entitlements if they go into liquidation. I didn’t. Another kick in the backside for employee ownership! Why doesn’t Australia want employee ownership to thrive? There is so many proven benefits. What can we do about this? Can anyone help these hard workers? #employeeownership #workercooperative #Fairentitlementguarentee #poorlegislation #BCCM #coopfederation #businesschaplain #swappingdesks
14.01.2022 The next generation learning about employee ownership. We need to bring this new business entity back into Australia to bring a better spread of equity and integrity. To provide opportunities and incentives for workers to save and reinvent the business they are working in. #employeeownership #cooperatives #swappingdesks #successionplanning #Cooperativedevelopmentnetwork
12.01.2022 "EO v3.0 Employee ownership with added Gandhian purpose." I enjoyed a zoom presentation on Employee Ownership by Graeme Nuttall, a renown world leader on employee ownership who presented a new definition (EO v3) where EO businesses are encouraged to higher levels of social responsibility and behaviours. Where community support, environmental initiatives and higher levels of staff benefits are provided. The lecture has caused me to reflect on this new definition of EO and... how to bring it to reality. I want to introduce another thought on Gandhi's trusteeship ideas. EO v3 ideals are above the existing laws of business and are where faith comes into the equation; it's a higher level of thinking and behaviour. Something I discovered in my journey with a workers cooperative is the constant tension between earning profits and providing social benefits. Many SME's struggle to achieve profits and find the time and resources to support community, environmental initiatives and provide staff benefits. Again in my experience, I have discovered that making an effort, taking a chance to give a little and trust in God has brought unexpected blessings. Giving a little is sometimes a lot. As explained in the bible's parable of the "poor widows offering". The question comes to mind; How do you get EO businesses to think this way? The only way I know is to trust in our creator to look after us. EO is based around and has been heavily influenced by Christian principles. The laws of our society and nation are also based on and are adhered to because of people with faith and the fear of God. Spirituality cannot be left out of the EO equation or individuals lives. The difference between incorporated and EO business is this higher level of belief and will. "You cannot serve both God and money" Luke 16:13 There are those in business that don't serve either but want to do good, but, is that enough to sustain and give them the drive to persevere in EO? I believe a business person needs to have trust and purpose while maintaining a relationship with God to uphold and achieve this higher level of EO v3. God's influence and his Word have been around for centuries, is constant and doesn't change, and this is what can sustain and continually influence EO. Where we as individuals come and go in a short period of time. In summary: Where there is faith, i.e. Christian influence EO will grow and be sustainable. This statement is supported by the history of EO. Religion and politics can be tricky subjects #employeeownership #Gandhianpurpose #EOv3 ##faithandwork #businesschaplaincy See more
12.01.2022 Swapping Desks (paperback only) can now be purchased on Gumtree for 1 month #gumtree #swapping Desks #successionplanning # employeeownership # workercooperative
10.01.2022 Why are there not a greater number of worker cooperasive startups? 1. Business model is not well know 2. Takes longer and more expensive to start a cooperative 3. Accountants don't know about cooperatives 4. Access to capital is a big problem - coops dont want venture capital... Converting a family business to a workers cooperative took 18 months and was costly. When the cooperative went into voluntary administration and went up for sale (that is another story). An investor registered a new business name, organised insurance and workers compensation and had it all in place to re-start a new family business within two days. How can we streamline the creation of cooperatives? #workercooperative #successionplanning #nswfairtrading #swappingdesks #businessentities
09.01.2022 Mutual Value Measurement or Cooperative Value measurement As values-based businesses, the greatest challenge for co-operatives and mutuals, is to let our values shine. This is a new way of measuring our positive impact on our members, our customers, the community and the economy. There is a toolkit for measuring the value we create. A framework that helps the CME sector measure their total value creation (mutual value) through a set of common dimensions. Creating a commonly s...hared language about measuring and reporting mutual value. The Framework uses six dimensions to cover the unique areas of value that CMEs generate. 1. Commerciality 2. Shaping Markets 3. Member relationships 4. Community Relationships 5. Ecosystem and reciprocity 6. Mutual mindset A great flyer on BCCM’s website explains it nicely. #cooperativeperformance #mvp #mutualvaluemeasurement #workercoperatives #employeeownership
07.01.2022 Family Business Succession What do you do if you cannot find a successor or a buyer for your family business? Sell to your skilled and experienced workforce! It’s an answer you have been looking for. 57% of family businesses have acknowledged that they would have no choice but to cease trading within one year of a severe illness or death of a current owner.... Only 42% have planned for succession. Family Business Succession Options Model 1. Recycling dad but what if no one is willing or able to step into dad’s shoes? Model 2. Next Generation ownership and management Model 3. Have active next-generation owners with a non-family management team Model 4. Trade Sale or find a private equity investor Model 5. Management Buyout Then the question arises; Can the business then sustain another MBO when the managers/owners are ready to retire? Model 6. Employee Ownership 6a. Create some liquidy with a minority employee ownership stake. This unlocks a portion of the families business wealth. 6b. 100% of family-owned shares sold by - Direct share purchase by employees - In-direct share purchase by a trust. 6c. Combination approach with a percentage retained by the family This allows the selling family to preserve the business legacy they built whilst realising the capital value that has built up in the company over the years. The equity in the trust is paid out to them from future profits of the employee-owned company over the coming years. A lot more answers can be found in Swapping Desks a story about a family business whom tried all the above and eventually stumbled on a little known and inexpensive solution rarely utilised in Australia for succession planning. Visit website www.eolegacy.com.au #swappingdesks #successionplanning #familybusinesssuccession #workercooperative #employeeownedcooperative
05.01.2022 "Swapping Desks" (paperback only) is now listed on eBay for purchase #swappingdesks #Successionplanning #cooperatives
05.01.2022 If you missed the interview by John Bryant, the radio announcer for Hawkesbury Harmony FM 89.9 interviewing author Robert McMaster about his recently released book "Swapping Desks" you can listen to it at http://eolegacy.com.au/videos-interviews/
04.01.2022 Community Wealth Building and the creation of worker cooperatives. Creating plural ownership in the local economy is a pillar foundational to CWB. This should be an informative event.
03.01.2022 Newcastle University Library brought Swapping Desks this week. Speaking to a business broker (by zoom) he indicated that many good businesses are on his books which are not being sold due to the situation of our economy. Transferring your business to be employee-owned is an option that should be considered. A proven socially responsible solution that few owners or accountants consider. #businessclosure #linkbusiness #employeeownership #workercooperative #swappingdesks #cdn #cooperativedevelopmentnetwork
02.01.2022 Waking the Asian Pacific Co-operative Potential Most books written about cooperatives over many years have come out of Europe, UK and America. This is the first major publication for the Asia Pacific Region. C-Mac Industries a worker cooperative in Australia has featured as a case study. Hopeful that when academics and students read this book and want to delv into deeper detail about the attitudes of Australia workers to employee ownership they may look to my book "Swapping Desks". #WakingtheAsianPacificCo-operativePotential #cooperatives #employeeownership #swappingdesks #workercooperatives
