[thedufer]

The problem with that is there are tax implications to giving someone a chunk of a company (it's technically income), even if it is completely illiquid. Tax implications the employee probably can't afford much better than a buy-in.

[mauricemir]

coops normally have special status to get round some of these issues.

And coop members can have direct or indirect ownership a full on worker coop normally has direct ownership and organizations like John Lewis have indirect ie shares held in trust.