Overview
of OEOC training programs, in pdf format.
Since
1988, The Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) has provided various types of
owner education training to the employee owned community. Our nearly fourteen
years of experience in the field have shown that the following elements help foster
effective programs for training and development in employee owned firms:
Employee involvement and
training efforts should be developed in support of employee owned firms' goals
and ongoing efforts to make real changes which eliminate waste (scrap, rework,
excessive inventory, and inefficiencies) but not workers, and improve working
life.
An oversight
committee composed of representatives of the employee groups involved in a training
initiative should get involved in helping to plan communicate, and evaluate feedback
on the program.
Successful
training programs produce results quickly when designed to build internal capacity
to continue the program. Thus, we recommend involving non-managerial, salaried,
and hourly trainer/facilitators in the development and delivery phases of the
training program. This approach can cut costs in the long run, enables firms to
train new hires without additional costs, and builds shop floor and union expertise.
Reflective
of the reality that ESOP stock ownership alone does not automatically lead to
increased employee commitment and firm performance, OEOC training programs are
designed to:
interface
with firms' existing or soon-to-be-developed employee participation structures;
ensure basic
understanding of employee roles, rights, and responsibilities as owners, including
how they own the business through an ESOP, what drives the business they own,
and how to read the financial information they get as owners;
combine
applied research, company-specific information, and specially designed materials
which address firms' unique situations;
allow
people to learn by doing through interactive exercises that tap into their knowledge
and experiences; and
build
firms' internal capacity to do ongoing training.
Assessment
of Ownership Culture:
The
OEOC can aid in team or company-wide assessments to help identify firms' best
practices and current needs in bringing about effective employee ownership and
participation. Surveys and feedback may be used as tools for planning, understanding
strengths and weaknesses, and as baseline data for periodic measurement of progress
toward firms' employee ownership and HR goals.
Owner Education:
These OEOC training
services provide basic information and training geared to aid employee owners
in developing an understanding of their ESOP and business.
ABC's of ESOPs: Based
on plan documents, ABC's of ESOPs sessions might include the basics of ESOP mechanics;
roles, rights, and responsibilities of employee owners; and exercises which reinforce
basic ESOP concepts.
What
Drives Your Business: This OEOC training service helps employee owners understand
their firm's business, markets, and objectives. Key business concepts and strategies--such
as process improvement, capital investment, and competitive elements in the workplace--may
be highlighted and addressed. This program is appropriate for non-managerial employees.
Board Training:
The OEOC's Board Training covers legal rights and responsibilities, the role of
the board in corporate governance and decision- making, and effective group process
approaches. This program is appropriate for non-managerial employees who serve
on the board of employee owned firms.
ESOP
Administration Committee Training: Participants in ESOP Administration Committee
Training examine rights and obligations according to the ESOP plan; basic legal
issues; prudent care and record keeping; repurchase issues; and common pitfalls
for administration committees.
Team
Effectiveness Training:
While
working as a team can be difficult, successful employee ownership requires teamwork
and problem solving skills. Using team-based exercises, participants learn how
to make group meetings positive experiences and apply problem solving approaches
which will guarantee that every meeting gets results.
Financial
Education:
Employee owners should get basic financial information about the business they
own. But do they understand it? The OEOC's financial training program prepares
employee owners to understand their business' financial statements and to use
them in decision making.
Understanding
Financial Reports: A basic introduction to business financials. Participants
learn the basics of financial statements, and terms found on their firm's balance
sheet, profit & loss, and cash flow statements. This is a one day program
appropriate for all non-managerial employees.
Financial
Analysis: This workshop teaches employee owners to analyze financial statements,
examining the operating cycle, cash flow, and working capital needs; to figure
standard financial ratios; and to apply these skills in uncovering the financial
problems of a simulated ESOP firm. This program is appropriate for non-managerial
employees serving on teams, boards, and committees.
Leadership
Development Retreats:
This
workshop explores skills and attitudes needed to lead employee involvement efforts.
Possible topics include managing change, leading group meetings, communications
and effective listening, problem solving, conflict management, building trust,
and action planning. These programs are appropriate for management, union, or
shop floor leaders.
Trainer/Facilitator
Development:
The
OEOC offers training and coaching for steering committee members and in-house
facilitators to build firms' internal capacity in the areas of group facilitation,
owner education, and financial education.
- Doing
Financial Training, A Financial Train-The-Trainer Workshop: This program is
designed to help trainers at employee owned firms develop their own, in-house
financial education classes.
Supervising Owners:
In Supervising Owners,
Supervisors at employee owned companies explore new styles of management, common
problems and stumbling blocks, and develop interpersonal skills. The training
makes use of hands-on exercises to illustrate leadership approaches to specific
workplace situations.
For
more information on bringing ownership training to your company contact:
Ohio
Employee Ownership Center
Kent State University
113 McGilvrey Hall
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Voice: 330.672.3028
Fax: 330.672.4063
Ohio
Employee Ownership Center/Kent State University, Copyright© 2001
For problems
with or questions regarding this site contact oeoc@kent.edu
