We are advocates of the "Lincoln Electric Business Model", based on profit sharing and guaranteed annual employment. Please contact us for a copy of the book about Lincoln, Spark, by Frank Koller.

Lincoln Electric is an excellent example of the "Profit Sharing Culture", based partially on sharing of profits but even more on the concept that all employees are part of the capitalist, free enterprise system. The Profit Sharing Culture produces these three excellent outcomes: First, the organization enjoys MUCH greater success in all aspects of organization performance as all employees pull together for their common interest in producing higher profitability; Second, employees are much more satisfied and become proponents of free enterprise as they share in the success of the enterprise and enjoy both extra discretionary income and discretionary capital; Third, ownership is much more satisfied as they enjoy seeing their employees prosper both in the near term and over the long run.

Another very good source of information can be found at www.ownershipthinking.com. The National Center for Employee Ownership (www.nceo.org) provides very good information about ESOPs and other forms of ownership for retirement. Ownership Thinking is aimed more at profit sharing and gain sharing forms of employee involvement.