How We Converted to a Cooperative--and How You Can, Too

[marmar]

How We Converted to a Cooperative—and How You Can, Too

RACHEL GERTZ
4 MIN READ
MAY 10, 2022


(YES! Magazine) The healthiest and happiest companies in the world are democracies.

At Louder Than Ten, the project management training company that I co-founded more than 13 years ago, we’ve seen this firsthand. In the more than 13 years that we’ve been working with digital product studios, agencies, and other creative teams, we’ve noticed a pattern. The more companies involve their workers, the healthier their operations are.

In 2021, we decided to put this theory to the test and make the ultimate commitment to workplace democracy. We became a worker-owned cooperative.

Why Become a Worker-Owned Cooperative?

As a society, we fight for democracy in government but settle for dictatorships in our workplaces, the place where we spend 70%–80% of our waking hours. Companies shamelessly monitor their team’s movements and actions in the name of “productivity.” They use time-scheduling software that dates back to a slave-owning family. They deny workers bathroom breaks. They make health care professionals work through a global pandemic without paid sick days.

In short, many workplaces treat people more like economic units than human beings. Even “cushy” jobs embrace toxic hustle culture and lay people off the second things go south in the company. ...............(more)

https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2022/05/10/company-converted-to-a-cooperative

[CrispyQ]

1. At the very least, IMO, all companies should have some kind of profit sharing plan for workers. -nt

[appalachiablue]

2. Big Yes to coops and a great magazine. K/R