Employee ownership unites both sides of the political aisle.
Working with the Bipartisan Policy Coalition (BPC), we engaged two polling firms (Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research) to poll 1,000 registered voters across the political spectrum. We over-sampled key demographics, including lower income white voters, Black voters, Hispanic voters, etc. The summary of the findings are as follows:
Not surprisingly, the idea of broad-based employee ownership is a relatively unknown. Just 3% of the individuals polled knew “a lot” about it.
“How much have you seen, read, or heard about broad-based employee ownership?”
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research (2023)
However, once informed, the concept is met with overwhelming support across the political spectrum.
“Please indicate if you support or oppose broad-based employee ownership?”
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research (2023)
Not only do voters like the idea conceptually, they are more likely to support candidates who support broad-based employee ownership.
“Would you be more likely or less likely to support an elected official who supports expanding the use of broad-based employee ownership?”
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research (2023)
…and both Democrats and Republicans want policy intervention to see this idea spread and for broad-based employee ownership to become more common.
“Based on what you know, would you support or oppose a policy where the government would incentivize companies to offer broad-based employee ownership?”
Last but not least, very few registered voters are “strongly against” this idea. So there’s not much risk to a political candidate embracing and supporting the concept.
“Why Are You Supportive” Sample Responses
- Helps economy
- Helps everyone
- Incentivize better work
- Loyalty / employee retention
- Fair
- Job security
Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research (2023)
