New Belgium Brewing has, yet again, been recognized by Outside Magazine as one of the best places to work in America. The magazine ranked the brewery 7th out of 100 selected companies; this is the sixth time that New Belgium has made the top 20.
The Colorado- based company, which is 100 percent employee-owned and an ESCA member, has been honored year after year for the unique ways it encourages work-life balance and active lifestyles, as well as eco-consciousness and community stewardship. The company has also been recognized as one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses and is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists.
“It’s quite an honor to be recognized for your culture,” said Bryan Simpson, PR Director of New Belgium. “Having fun is a core value here but we are also an incredibly hard-working bunch and value co-worker input. Being 100 percent employee owned means everyone has a voice and a hand in making this brewery the best that it can be.”
While these awards are important to recognize, the benefits of working for an S corporation ESOP are also just as note-worthy.
At employee-owned companies, employees are able to prepare for a secure retirement through their employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a qualified retirement savings plan which is fully funded by the profits of the company. As powerful savings vehicles, S ESOPs also generate $14 billion in new savings each year for workers that would otherwise not exist, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.
Economist Alex Brill, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and CEO of consulting firm Matrix Global Advisors, published a study last April looking at the “Macroeconomic Impact of S ESOPs on the U.S. Economy.” Findings from the report reveal that employee-owned companies that have employee stock ownership plans demonstrate higher productivity and increased economic resilience despite economic fluctuations.
According to the study, “The S ESOP structure in particular has been show to lead to greater firm longevity and higher wages, wage growth, job stability, retirement plan contributions, employment and sales than would otherwise have been anticipated.”
It is critical to preserve and expand the S ESOP business model so that future generations can have the same opportunity to gain from employee ownership.
Congratulations to New Belgium Brewing – keep up the great work!
For more information about New Belgium Brewing, visit www.newbelgium.com. The entire list of winners of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to work 2014 can be found here.
