2024-05-08T13:26:30-04:00 https://archinect.com/features/article/150305322/cooperatives-the-real-employee-owned-firms Niall Patrick Walsh 2022-05-06T09:00:00-04:00 >2022-05-19T18:18:46-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/68/6879066639d2dcdc44841da87a29bb4e.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>In a follow-up to our <a href="https://archinect.com/features/article/150291107/a-guide-to-employee-owned-architecture-firms-by-those-who-have-made-the-change" target="_blank">January 2022 feature</a> on employee-owned architecture firms, we question if the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) models which represent the majority of employee-owned architecture firms adequately fulfill a growing worker-led clamor for reform within the profession. For organizations such as the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/370511/architecture-lobby" target="_blank">Architecture Lobby</a>, and its founding member&nbsp;<a href="https://archinect.com/peggydeamer.com" target="_blank">Peggy Deamer</a>, meaningful worker ownership of an architectural firm goes far beyond the ESOP model of stock and retirement plans, and instead requires a fundamental rethink, or even abolition, of the employer-employee dynamic.</p>