When there are suddenly too many bosses

A fundamental distinction is made between equity and debt capital. While employee shares and limited liability company (GmbH) shares represent true equity capital and employee loans represent debt capital , there are also hybrid forms such as silent partnerships and profit participation rights. Around half of all companies with employee equity participation choose the silent partnership route . "Besides silent partnerships, employee loans and profit participation rights are forms of participation that are particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises due to their ease of administration," Dr. Birgit Roos, Head of Division at the Investment Bank of North Rhine-Westphalia (IB), told the state initiative "Income of the Future."

Direct participation through limited liability company (GmbH) shares is more difficult to manage in practice , as it involves the transfer of shareholder rights and requires notarization for every change. Employee share ownership plans and stock option plans also play a minor role for traditional SMEs, i.e., small and medium-sized enterprises.

Involve employees

Thomas Braun , managing director of a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning (HVAC) company in Leverkusen , had a negative experience with the limited liability company (GmbH) participation scheme . He had introduced the scheme with the aim of increasing employee motivation and productivity. Seven of the 26 employees subsequently became shareholders in the GmbH.

But the experiment fizzled out after about a year and a half. The employees sold their shares back. The reason: " Suddenly there were too many bosses. But the work continued as before ," recalls Managing Director Ralf Hertel. The mistake at the time, he says, was that the employees weren't informed comprehensively enough . He advises all business owners who want to give their employees a stake in the company: "First, approach the whole thing systematically, engage very thoroughly with the topic, and then involve the employees."

Craft businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia can learn more about this topic through the state initiative "Income of the Future," receive brochures, participate in workshops, and take advantage of a free initial consultation. Nationwide, the Working Group for Partnership in Business (AGPEV) provides information .