Publications

The Democracy at Work Institute publishing program was created to develop practical resources, conduct research, and promote the thinking of cooperative developers and worker-owners. We will develop tools and resources to promote best practices for worker cooperatives, developers, and those interested in worker cooperatives as a tool for economic and community development. Our foundational research program will cover everything from a census of the number and type of worker cooperatives and cooperative development efforts, to research on access to capital for worker cooperatives. We will investigate barriers to cooperative development, and economic impacts of shared ownership. Our publications will also be a forum for cooperative developers and members to share their wisdom - and their opinions - about worker cooperative development and functioning. Topics are as broad as proposals for new anchor institution strategies and as specific as a thought piece on founders' credits and incentives for growth.

Estado del sector 2023

Estado del Sector 2023

Cubriendo 10 años de avances empresariales, el Estado del Sector de las Cooperativas de Trabajadores y Lugares de Trabajo Democráticos es un reporte sobre los lugares de trabajo de propiedad colectiva y gestión democrática en los Estados Unidos y sus territorios. Esta investigación es una co-producción del Instituto de Democracia en el Trabajo y la Federación de Cooperativas de Trabajadores de E.E.U.U.. Se basa en los desarrollos más recientes del sector, recopilados en el Censo de Empresas Cooperativas de Trabajadores, y es una herramienta esencial para comprender este campo.

Gestion Democratica: Una Guia

Gestión democrática: una guía práctica para gerentes y otres responsables

Author(s) : Rebecca Bauen, Directora de Enseñanza y Capacitación; Melissa Hoover, Directora de Proyectos Especiales;Joe Marraffino, Gerente de Programas ● Julian McKinley, Co-Directore Ejecutive; Olga Prushinskaya, Analista de Métricas y Resultados

Gestión democrática: una guía práctica para gerentes y otres responsables

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Expanding Your Worker Cooperative Business: A Guide to Licensing & Franchising

This Guide is for worker owners, cooperative developers, lawyers, technical assistance providers and others thinking about expanding worker cooperative businesses. We focus specifically on expansion through licensing and franchising. Licensing and franchising are ways to allow another business to use elements of your business. New businesses can grow using elements of your business, and together, you may be able to reach economies of scale.

State of the Sector Report 2023 Cover

2023 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report

Author(s) : Democracy at Work Institute and United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives

Covering two years of business progress, the 2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector is a report on worker-owned and democratic workplaces in the United States. This report is a co-production of Democracy at Work Institute and the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The report draws upon the latest developments in the field and deepens our understanding of the sector.

A National Survey of Worker Cooperative Bylaws and Operating Agreements

A National Survey of Worker Cooperative Bylaws and Operating Agreements

As a leading national technical assistance provider to new and established worker cooperatives, The ICA Group is frequently tasked with supporting worker-owners in drafting or revising their co-ops' bylaws or operating agreements. Through our practice, we have developed widely used template legal documents and facilitative processes to help worker-owners think through a variety of critical questions that can help ensure that these central legal documents create the framework for the successful operation of cooperative businesses that align with members' visions and values.

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Seeding Equity: A New Community-Based Model of Public Investment in Worker Cooperatives for Excluded Workers

In 2021, California launched Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED), an innovative grant program fostering high-road business ownership opportunities for excluded workers (individuals who cannot access stable, gainful employment relationships and whose economic opportunities are severely constrained due to their immigration status or other significant barriers to employment).

2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report

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Covering two years of business progress, the 2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector is a report on worker-owned and democratic workplaces in the United States. This report is a co-production of Democracy at Work Institute and the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The report draws upon the latest developments in the field and deepens our understanding of the sector.
The Municipal Playbook For Employee Ownership

The Municipal Playbook for Employee Ownership

Author(s) : Zen Trenholm (DAWI) and Kyle Funk (NLC)
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The Democracy at Work Institute and the National League of Cities have developed The Municipal Playbook for Employee Ownership to assist with integrating employee ownership into municipal economic and workforce development strategies. It offers three approaches that address specific pain points faced by many municipalities:

How Economic Democracy Impacts Workers, Firms, and Communities

Author(s) : Laura Hanson Schlachter, Olga Prushinskaya
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How Economic Democracy Impacts Workers, Firms, and Communities  presents findings from a national survey of 1,147 workers in 82 worker cooperatives and follow-up interviews with 15 participants—the first national survey of its kind. This novel data, collected in 2017, allows us to explore the impact of workplace democracy on individuals, firms, and communities across the United States. It also provides important opportunities for future research about how worker cooperatives can promote resilience and racial equity in this moment.