Employee ownership is more than a job, it’s a legacy

Imagine the pride of working for a company where you are not just an employee, but an owner. Now imagine watching your son walk through those same doors, wearing the same logo, beginning his own journey in the place that shaped yours. That is the kind of pride I have felt working for an employee-owned company for the past 25 years.

Seeing him start his career where I built mine reminded me that being an employee-owner is about more than a paycheck. It is about purpose. It is about legacy. It is one thing to be proud of your own path. It is something else entirely to know it is helping pave the way for the next generation.

Multigenerational families are not uncommon in employee-owned companies like computer hardware manufacturer Crystal Group, and there is a reason for that. When you create a workplace where people feel heard, respected, and invested in, they are more likely to stay. They are also more likely to want the same for their kids. I have worked alongside people who trained me when I first started, and now I get to coach and mentor the next generation. That kind of continuity builds more than just skills. It builds culture. It reflects the Midwestern values — work hard, support your team, and leave things better than you found them.

The median employee tenure at employee-owned companies is about 50% higher than at traditional businesses. You are not just a number. You are part of something bigger. And people treat you that way. We show up for each other. We solve problems together. And we take pride in doing things the right way.

Employee ownership also makes a big difference in people’s financial futures. On average, workers at private employee-owned companies have more than twice the retirement savings of their peers at other firms. That kind of long-term security is rare and worth protecting.

Unfortunately, too many workers have never even heard of employee ownership, and too many business owners do not realize it is an option when they are planning for the future of their companies.

Here in Iowa, there are already 147 employee-owned companies supporting more than 90,000 participants. But there could be more. We need to make employee ownership more visible, more accessible, and more supported.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act is a bipartisan legislative proposal that would lower the barriers for companies to adopt employee ownership. The bill encourages retiring owners to sell to employees, provides technical assistance for the transition, and removes unnecessary regulatory hurdles.

Rep. Zach Nunn and Sen. Chuck Grassley have already signed on as cosponsors, showing that Iowa understands the value of employee ownership. I encourage the rest of Iowa’s congressional delegation to join them in supporting this legislation to strengthen our workforce and give more Americans an opportunity to take part in the success they create.

Jon Martens serves as a Senior Production Manager and is a seasoned manufacturing leader with over 25 years of experience in operations at Crystal Group. Currently serving as a Senior Production Manager, Jon is based in Hiawatha.