October has arrived, and with it comes the celebration of Employee Ownership awareness month! As a proud ESOP company, we at EOH take great pleasure in expanding our knowledge and understanding of the invaluable benefits an ESOP can bring. This is also the perfect time to express our gratitude to our incredible employees, whose unwavering commitment and hard work contribute to the continued success of our business.

Are you familiar with the term “ESOP”? ESOP stands for “Employee Stock Ownership Plan” which is a qualified retirement plan that enables employees to be considered partial owners of the company they work for by receiving and growing beneficial shares of company stock. ESOPs are a form of employee benefit plan designed to provide employees with an additional layer of financial security and promote a sense of ownership in the company’s success. Here are some key points to understand about ESOPs:

• Ownership Structure: In an ESOP, the company sets up a trust, known as the ESOP trust, which holds and manages the shares of company stock on behalf of employees. These shares are typically allocated within the trust to benefit employees based on factors like their salary or years of service.
• Employee Participation: Employees do not purchase the shares allocated to them; they receive the benefit as part of their compensation package. Over time, as employees accumulate beneficial shares in the ESOP trust, they become beneficial owners of the company.
• Financial Benefits: ESOP participants benefit in several ways:
  • As the company’s value grows, the value of the shares in the ESOP increases, potentially providing a source of wealth and financial security.
  • ESOP accounts can serve as a retirement savings vehicle, and employees can access their ESOP funds when they retire or meet specific criteria.
  • Depending on the structure and tax regulations, employees may enjoy certain tax advantages related to their ESOP participation.
• Voting Rights: While employees have beneficial ownership of the company through the ESOP, the ESOP trust typically holds the voting rights associated with the shares. However, the trustee of the ESOP trust may vote the shares in alignment with the interests and preferences of the employees.
• Exit Strategy: ESOPs are often used as a succession planning tool. Business owners can use ESOPs to gradually sell their shares to employees over time, facilitating a smooth transition of ownership while ensuring the company’s continuity.
• Alignment of Interests: ESOPs are seen as a way to align the interests of employees and the company. By making employees partial owners, companies aim to foster a sense of ownership, accountability, and commitment among their workforce.
• Management and Governance: In ESOP companies, the management team and board of directors typically work closely with the ESOP trustee to ensure that the interests of employee-owners are represented, and the company operates in a manner that generally benefits both employees and shareholders.
• Regulations and Reporting: ESOPs are subject to various regulations and reporting requirements, including those outlined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. Compliance with these regulations is essential for ESOP companies.

Being a part of an ESOP company promotes employee retention, engagement, and financial well-being. Check out this video to hear personal testimonies from our employees for an inside look at what it means to work for an ESOP.

A special congratulations to the following employees at our company for being recognized as this years’ EOH Values Award Winners:

• Robert Rasmusson (SIT): Acts with Integrity
• David Gwartney (SIT): Always Seek Improvement
• Amanda Simmons (SIT): Work Smart
• Daniel Uribe: (SIT): Laser Customer Focus
• Kevin Bonvillain (SIT): Produce Results
• Wilfredo Gallardo (SIT): Work Smart
• Katie Ferris (HYD): Work Smart
• Bill Kadlec (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
• Rodney Sexton: (HYD): Acts with Integrity
• Russ Bailey: (HYD): Produce Results
• Treg Murphy: (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
• Adam Rowe (GCC): Produce Results
• Donald Steinhart (GCC): Acts with Integrity
• Erwin Stewart (GCC): Laser Customer Focus
• Ken Davis (GCC): Work Smart
• Kyle Lemieux (GCC): Produce Results
• Evan Trapp (EOH): Always Seek Improvement
• Jamie Chilcoat (EOH): Produce Results