SMLR Info

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing today announced the launch of the Employee Ownership Applied Research Lab. Supported by The Prudential Foundation and an anonymous donor, this new effort is focused on translating academic research into practical tools and strategies for use by business owners, advisors, impact investors, family offices, policymakers, and other professionals.

“We have strong research across the employee ownership field, but too often, it doesn’t reach decision-makers in forms that are accessible and actionable” said Adria Scharf, Director of the Employee Ownership Applied Research Lab. “This Lab is about translating that knowledge into tools that can actually be used—and creating a space where research and practice inform one another.”

The Lab’s first major initiative is the Employee Ownership Research-to-Practice Hub, an open-access online platform offering case studies, action briefs, data tools, and educational resources designed for real-world application.

Beyond Small Business Succession

Employee ownership is often discussed in the context of business succession—and with many business owners nearing retirement, that remains an important opportunity. But the potential of employee ownership extends far beyond succession.

Employee ownership models—including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP), worker cooperatives, employee ownership trusts, and broad-based equity compensation—can be applied across a wide range of industries and firm sizes. They are increasingly being explored as tools to improve job quality, strengthen firm performance, support business transitions of many kinds, and address persistent inequalities in wealth and economic opportunity.

Rutgers research suggests that millions of workers could benefit from broader access to ownership. Yet adoption remains limited, in part because decision-makers lack clear, practical guidance on when and how these models work.

Field Input

The Employee Ownership Applied Research Lab was shaped by direct input from the field. In a recent Rutgers survey of business owners, advisors, nonprofit leaders, labor representatives, and government officials, only 5% said traditional academic research is highly effective at answering the questions they face in practice.

The Lab responds to that need by producing accessible, actionable resources grounded in rigorous research.

“These resources are not just about awareness,” Scharf said. “They are about enabling action: helping people to understand what works, in what contexts, and how to do it well.”

A National Research-to-Practice Hub

The Employee Ownership Applied Research Lab will serve as a national hub for research-to-practice collaboration. Over the coming years, the Lab will:

• Publish practitioner-focused research and tools;
• Develop case studies and implementation guides;
• Partner with field organizations and businesses on applied research; and
• Convene leaders across sectors to shape future research and practice.

By connecting academic research directly with implementation and impact, the Lab aims to strengthen employee ownership models and expand their potential to support resilient businesses, broader wealth-sharing, and more equitable economic outcomes.

“Work should provide more than a paycheck,” Scharf said. “Employee ownership creates a pathway for workers to share in the wealth they help create. Our goal is to help ensure these models are implemented in ways that truly expand opportunity.”

For more information, visit EOHUB.rutgers.edu.

Press Contact

Steve Flamisch
Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations
848.252.9011 (cell)
steve.flamisch@smlr.rutgers.edu

About the School

The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) is the world’s leading source of expertise on managing and representing workers, designing effective organizations, and building strong employment relationships.

About the Institute

SMLR’s Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing conducts empirical research, analyzes policy, and sponsors the leading global fellowship program and academic conferences in the field. The Institute also manages a research program focused on equity compensation (The Shares Laboratory) and a technical assistance center (The NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership), including a new program with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The Institute offers a program to help college professors teach about these subjects (The Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership), a free Coursera course, and a free online program with short, engaging videos introducing employee ownership, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

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