Race and Gender Wealth Equity and the Role of Employee Share Ownership

Hear from SMLR's Joseph Blasi as he co-presents "Race and Gender Wealth Equity and the Role of Employee Share Ownership" at the Global Equity Organization's (GEO) Annual Conference on Thursday, September 23rd.

Even before the pandemic, in an allegedly strong economy, workers at the bottom end of the opportunity scale were struggling to support themselves and their families. Not only have the incomes of the lowest paid workers stagnated or fallen even as the cost of essentials, such as housing, have climbed, but wealth inequality has soared. Workers and families in low-wealth households face daunting barriers to achieving common financial goals and the pandemic has exacerbated and heightened awareness of these inequities. Broadening opportunities to participate in the ownership of business assets can help address this wealth divide and offer working people the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the success of our economy. In addition, employee share ownership can contribute to business resilience and job retention in communities and can play an important part in supporting economic recovery. Drawing on important recent research, this insightful and timely session will show why policymakers, funders, and investors (and anyone!) who cares about racial and gender wealth equity should support employee share ownership and the ways in which they can do so in practice.