Polling Data

Employee ownership unites both sides of the political aisle.

We polled 1,000 registered voters across the political spectrum. The summary findings included:

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?”

ESOP Polling Data - General Knowledge

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?”

Polling by party: support oppose (slide 31)

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?”

Polling by party: government incentive (slide 36)

Source: Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research (2023)

ESOPs have a history of bipartisan support.

ESOP-related legislation has a track record of receiving bipartisan support over the years. The original legislation that’s included in ERISA (1974) passed by near unanimous consent. Since then, many subsequent changes to the ESOP provisions in ERISA – which were part of larger tax bills – have passed with ease. In some cases, the slimmer margins of passage had more to do with the larger bill than with the ESOP provisions.

Votes in favor of amendments that included ESOP provisions.
Explore legislation that passed with support from both sides of the aisle.

ESOP Congress Support Over the Years
ESOPs Senate Support