This Business Decision Could SAVE Capitalism | The Way I Heard It

[@DBene-br7xo]

As a Groundworks employee, I can tell you, this is 100% Matt Malone and 100% Groundworks. I really smiled watching this. This is who this company really is. Thank you Matt for being you! Thank you Mike for showing this to the world.

[@SooperTrooper100]

I have welding skills from working with the pipefitters and ironworkers. I also have 15 years 18wheeler CDL experience. No college degree. People are not afraid of work. Classism and corporatism is what is afoot. The top is crushing the middle.

[@droe2570]

It's important to remember that a lot of the middle are voting for the top. Every time I hear about the "evil elites", I never hear also about the literal tens of millions in the US alone who vote for the "evil elites".

[@twosencefromcleveland6084]

And making sauce of the poor. Oddly, no one is considering the poor. It's not ALL self induced.

[@jonkirkwood469]

I feel the dependent class is crushing the productive (taxpaying) class. I feel it to the tune of $35E12

[@ChoppersModelworks]

I have about 35 years' experience as a machinist and the going pay is actually less now with inflation taken in than say in 1995. Some occupations just don't pay for the stress and years of skills to acquire the knowledge.

[@mustanglady7843]

I love the way Matt Malone continues to use the word "WE" and not "I". That says a lot about the man and his viewpoint of the companies he owns. I would ask him, "What do you look for in a person you hire?" and "How can we "marry" the folks that want to work with a business owner like Matt Malone?" This podcast was exciting and encouraging.

[@Camerenmenlo]

I don't comment really at all unless I am moved internally to do so. @Matt Malone and @Mike Rowe, thanks for recording and sharing this conversation. I agree 100% with all that was said and the concerns! Grit and Determination.

[@kenyongray2615]

It makes total sense that if you give employees a stake in the company they work for, their work is going to be exceptional. God bless Mike and Matt.

[@CarlGorn]

It needs to be said. Mike's barbershop quartet plea for subscriptions is the best hype for subs on KZbin.

[@Amyjo_lovesmusic]

As an employee of a 100% owned company I agree! It is the future. Thank you Mike and Matt for this conversation! It is a perfect kick off to ESOP month!

[@henrywilkins5865]

Excellent! 69 and grew up building. Now there are no carpenters and trades folks that know how, to build properly and care. Just had to get help building my porches, and spent it explaining and showing and getting some of what I wanted done right.

[@pappabob29]

Sooooo true !!! My sone is a Plumber and my Son-in-law is an electrician. They represent the last generation of "real craftsmen" and are on the edge of retirement. I was an electrician, my Dad was a carpenter, my uncle was a general contractor as was my grandfather. In my and my ancestors day in the trades, there would be 40 guys in the building putting it together and 5 guys in the office handling the management. These days, those numbers are flipped over !!! The trades are being "riddled" with "brainless" digital devices intended to "save labor". They NEVER work 100% without error and the only guys who can and do find those errors are the ones who are about to retire. "it aint going to be pretty when this current generation of "professionals" retires !!!

[@Bottle-Blonde]

Thank you for returning the USA to a country that makes stuff. Essential to success of our economy! God Speed❤

[@ferriswheeler08]

If there is a thumbs down at all for this podcast it is brought to you by "higher learning" institutions

[@ShonjiPowerOf2]

As an 'essential ' worker I love how he views work. I was pretty resentful of all the goods I was delivering to people being payed to stay home by the end of 2020. Even when I was leaving the Air Force the VA tells you to get up on schedule and get dressed and apply for jobs for a set amount of time. They seemed to think they had good data but my upbringing says this is common sense. Get up and go to work. My uncle says his business reported employees at home had a 30% drop in work and he wanted to offer them paychecks of 30% less 😂😂

[@dirtisbetterthandiamonds]

Publix grocery stores only sell stock to their employees. My daughter hasnt worked there for 10 years and she still gets a nice check every year for stock benefits. Its really a nice setup! Employees are why Publix is rated so high and loved so much. They care because it affects their stocks.

[@ThorOdinson-s8m]

I used to love Publix but as a truck driver I have the unjoyful job of delivering to their warehouses n they’re absolutely gross. I can’t see how they pass hygiene n sanitary inspections. I haven’t stepped foot in one since then. Nope. Wish I never saw the inside of their warehouses.

[@michaelk622]

I moved from Florida back to Colorado…I still miss 2 things… the beach and Publix.

[@workingcountry1776]

Driven all over half this country and never saw one. Must be west coast thing only at this time

[@Traveler-rv]

Love Publix. Very philanthropic in my community.

[@starspaceschool587]

What stops their employees from selling their stock to whoever they want?

[@RetemVictor]

My grandfather worked for a small player in the fertilizer game; a privately owned and operated company and they had profit sharing. Profit sharing in those days was the prototype for these coop ownership businesses, by giving a man a stake in the company their mindset changes greatly.

[@stamperitis]

So we just used Groundworks for our driveway fix. It was cracking and hollowed out underneath. Wonderful work here in Edmonton. The office was in Sherwood Park, Alberta

[@robinc4300]

Amen!! There are no companies without the employees. Employee-owned is a perfect way to give power back to the People instead of living under oppressive corporatocracy and gives them something to be proud of and care. They're invested.

[@zekrk504]

A craftsman revolution!

[@Meeps42069]

Just to throw something else into the mix, and perhaps this is also more of an "exception." I work as a software engineer. I'm a high school graduate, no college (except 2 community college semesters about 10 years apart. I worked in bars/restaurants in Baltimore for well over a decade and in my late 20s, took a risk to do something different and taught myself programming. There was a lot of luck involved, but I will also not discount my own grit, hunger for knowledge, and work ethic instilled in me from the kind of work I did before becoming "white collar." I'm a testament to the other side of being someone who always disliked school but wound up in a typical "white collar" career because I value hard work, my integrity and personal standards, and because many, many things are skills which are learned through experience, regardless of how much a degree has become associated with that field.

[@woodymather8022]

One of the best podcast I have listened too. As a Construction executive you have nailed the issue and its great to hear how success can be gained in the service sector

[@mchristr]

Having spent 25 years in automotive repair, I can say first hand that it's an extremely regulated industry. For example, a customer must be presented with a fairly detailed invoice with estimated repair costs before any work is done. If additional work is needed, the repair business must notify the customer and get either verbal or written approval before the added work is done.

[@josephpercevecz332]

TMC Transportation in Des Moines, Iowa became an employee owned company about fifteen years ago. Sure changes employees perspectives!

[@jackscott7181]

The company I work for is implementing an ESOP at the first of the year. I am PUMPED!

[@SuperUTubeDooper]

A PE firm that focuses on being able to acquire companies and help them grow through employee ownership would be great to see.

[@freakfiveoh]

He's right about negative experiences with contractors as a whole. I had foundation work done by JES when I lived in Virginia, and I thought I was going to have a similar experience based off an unexpected cost related to iur electrical panel, but the manager of our local office took ownership of the miscommunication and paid for a new panel in my house. I was expecting a much more miserable fight with the company over that dispute, and was very pleased the way they handled it with no fuss. Foundation work is expensive, but I would definitely go with JES again.

[@woliver74]

Mike Rowe is right!! Please Help!! As a tradesman with over 30 years of experience, including 28 in HVAC/R, I am genuinely impressed by what you’ve achieved with Groundworks. Your ownership concept has the power to change lives and improve the trades I deeply believe in what you’ve accomplished. I know you might have initially thought it would be just a talk, but you’ve proven a concept that can change lives. The leader is always at the forefront Sorry, Matt-that’s you. I would appreciate any resources you could share and would love to meet with you if that could be arranged VA Beach HQ or anywhere.

[@theresasauer6761]

Great interview! I work in accounting for a family owned specialty construction company. We are experiencing the same issues with our staffing. We have been getting some interest from immigrant workers but not enough to cover all our needs. Have you heard of St Joseph the Worker? It is a trade/colllege institution that just started in Steubenville Ohio. Students learn and work a trade to pay for college courses.

[@roberthakker5456]

Question; Can your company hire Canadians? My 1 son 29 years old has 4 years construction, from foundations to finish carpentry in higher priced homes, renovations to new additions. My other son 24 years old has 3 years plumbing and 1 year construction. Strong, ambitious, don't look at their phone they work. Want to buy a wooded property in U.S. Any info is appreciated.

[@markcole4621]

This is the oppositive of the "Jack Welch" model of ownership, where the company is run for and by the employees and not the shareholders. Thank you Matt and Mike.

[@ferriswheeler08]

His humility is amazing for what he has done. He also shows why these CEOs of banks and these other mega corps are not worth anywhere near their worth and pay..

[@SmoothOperator319]

Its not… if you actually knew his company “basement works” they are boarder line scammers.

[@arobles201263ar]

I'm so glad this is being addressed, this is crazy I wanted to ask mike about why there is such a divide between the companies management and workers when I met him, but I was just excited to see him I totally forgot the question haha but im glad it's being addressed and it bugs mike just as much as it does everyone else

[@jeran881]

Glad to know the American dream is still alive. At least for Mike Row, the private equity fund guy and everyone that works for him.

[@benbarron1149]

that's leadership...how a leader should view his employees/associates. All have a role to play and no one person is more important than another. Love it. so much so I am seeking employment on this team. -Retired Marine who wants the right team to join for next 20 years.

[@dalesharp9953]

One of the greatest interview of all times!!!!!

[@shadowangel3995]

So you guys nailed it. So many of the younger generations have this idea that they can go from step 3 to step 15 in the workforce just because of their name or their level of education/ licensing/ training/ certifications when in reality you have to start at the bottom working, sweating, grinding, and sometimes bleeding your way up the ladder. Besides Groundworks one of the best business models I have ever come across is Chick-fil-A. I say that because they promote from within. The people who run the restaurants started at the bottom in that location and worked their way through the ranks.

[@neilkosterman3936]

Your economic model is a not to distant echo of the the Guild system. Its a financial version. Similar to the apprenticeship model. I hope its clear even though I'm having trouble expressing it. Kudos!

[@PearlMagnolia]

This is the business model of Publix grocery stores!❤❤❤

[@RBusmc]

Another fantastic podcast, Mike

[@pawnzrtasty]

I work for company kinda like this. I make 50% commission on work completed. I buy the materials and they get work and do the management work. I’m not wealthy but I I have a savings and I can buy a house. I’m thankful every day for this job.

[@JamieStrohecker]

What a great interview / chat! Thank you both for continuing to promote the trades!

[@Errb_Sulaky]

I hope that this can become the model for capitalism but worry what will be done to prevent it. We already know from Dodge v Ford Motor Co in 1919 that private equity will do what it can to prevent it. Following massive profits from WW1, Ford wanted to reinvest the money into worker pay, equity, and lower consumer costs, low and behold Ford was sued by his shareholders who weren’t happy with their own purposed payouts. This went all the way to the Supreme Court where it was decided that he “had to operate Ford Motor Co. in the interest of its shareholders and not in the interest of its employees and/or customers.” Thank you for taking the stance you have and I hope it spreads. These are the things that will help rebuild the middle class in the U.S.

[@craigstough7042]

This should be required in every business school. There are so many sectors of the home improvement where this will work.

[@nicholasbrown9447]

Another great convo, thanks guys

[@r.rodriguez4991]

I'm half an hour in and I really wish they'd explain what the model their talking about even is. This guy is saying it's the future of America and I don't even know what he's doing different.

[@neilkosterman3936]

I'm pretty sure you won't be reading this. My hope is that my comments on verious content sites will be discovered as a whole. Enough said. I want you to be reinculcated with an old idea. The harmony between inequalities. It's a concept you're groping to express. Let's admit that there are inequalities of accidents. You are, I think, touching that reality. Don't be ashamed of it. Excellent presentation gents. Thanks, on Thanksgiving (Canadaian), Neil, a fan.

[@Marann771]

Scariest conversation I've ever heard. The irony of the foundation of our nation, and everything that made it and keeps it flourishing and growing, is crumbling right before our eyes with absolutely no one qualified or ability to sustain and/or rebuild it...wow!!

[@andrewbreiter-wu]

How is it scary?

[@incognito1427]

​@@andrewbreiter-wu if you're 50 years old or younger, it's scary. Can you imagine a country where you need a plumber and the next availability is in 3 months? Well that's happening now and it will get worse, we need qualified trades people now and for the foreseeable future of the society.

[@andrewbreiter-wu]

@@incognito1427 Now I understand what you mean and yes I agree with you. We have a major gap in skilled trades that are capable and motivated to keep our built environment functioning and be able to build the future infrastructure we desperately need. I agree it is concerning.

[@WilcoxNotreallythere]

Most people can't even see that its happening

[@michaelmeehan9083]

We need to shift investment toward renewing our industrial base.

[@dsantoro5678]

We are dealing with employee attrition this in automotive as well. No shortage of broken cars...

[@bluemm2852]

No joke I subscribed because the jingle at the end made me laugh.

[@ts4009]

The problem was created through the education system. The people that created the problem do not want it to go away.

[@michaeldelarm1630]

Yessir... and would ya look at that... (look at this great co-op plan we have for everyone)....

[@jasontueni6795]

This guy is very inspiring i did something similar at a much smaller scale and earned a great exit .

[@TSquared2001]

This was a good discourse

[@janetmcburney4582]

A very important podcast looking at the gap between the infrastructure of our country and the lack of the ability to maintain/replace it. We are in trouble. It's all going to go splat.

[@JAMESMT-mm6zl]

Damn, what a great interview and topic. Learned a lot. Thanks for sharing.

[@TerrenceCleveland]

Glory!!! After so much struggles i now own a new house with an influx of $115, 000 every month God has kept to his words, my family is happy again everything is finally falling into place. God bless America.🙌🏻

[@LeslieCarroll-b5r]

Hello, how do you achieve such biweekly returns? As a single parent i haven't been able to get my own house due to financial struggles, but my faith in God remains strong.

[@LeslieCarroll-b5r]

I'm inspired. Please spill some sugar about the biweekly stuff you mentioned

[@Tommy_595]

This is a definition of God's unending provisions for his people. God remains faithful to his words. 🙏 I receive this for my household

[@TerrenceCleveland]

I raised 115k and Kate Elizabeth Becherer is to be thanked. I got my self my dream car 🚗 just last weekend, My journey with her started after my best friend came back from New York and saw me suffering in dept then told me about her and how to change my life through her.Kate Elizabeth Becherer is the kind of person one needs in his or her life! I got a home, a good wife, and a beautiful daughter. Note: this is not a promotion but me trying to make a point that no matter what happens, always have faith and keep living!

[@DebraGibson-e5k]

I started with a miserly $1500. The results have been mind blowing I must say TBH

[@JacquelineVaughn-v9h]

I think it is pretty simple….Employees need to be treated like you can’t do the job without them because YOU CAN’T DO THE JOB WITHOUT THEM!

[@daveyohnson6418]

Im 10 years out of retirement, and about 10 years ago my family-owned company was acquired by an "employee owned" company. I'll be somewhat surprised if this piece of paper is worth anything in ten years, Our current CEO is stacking the upper-level managment thick, and ignoring the real issues . Employee-owned essentially means you get to take a "satisfaction survey" twice a year to air your grievances, which fall on mostly deaf ears, and never get addressed completely.

[@damiancayer2003]

I think a lot of organizations suffer from this, be they private or public. My guess is they are currently run by the people that ‘know better’ than the people lower down. I saw this all the time in the military, but at least there, no one is worried about not getting paid as the bottom line is always covered. The big wigs come for a ‘town hall’ with the same BS answers for all the points we’d bring up, ‘things are on the up and up!’ they’d say. Nothing would ever really change except they’d make us wear some new colorful patch on our uniform to boost our morale… Unfortunately, the cost of bad management there is a lot of people getting hurt or dead before they change anything.

[@michaeldelarm1630]

Yeah.... they're doing a great job of talking it up.... a couple millionaires sitting around talking about how good this is for their workers...... 👀 hmmm nothings ever as good as they make it sound.

[@donclowers7666]

I’m, let’s say, well into the later half of my career but I wish I had heard talks like this in my early years. Just to conceive of the broader horizons of opportunity is something I hope the younger folk are exposed to and take advantage of.

[@davidquartey]

What are the broader zones of opportunities?

[@douglassmith2055]

There are several qualifiers. Anything that educates and empowers workers to improve their lives should be considered. It is difficult to work for an hourly wage as it is unentrepreneurial. It is also difficult to work for someone who doesn't know how to do your job.

[@nevertoopoortotour.3033]

Mike Rowe for Supreme Leader

[@Azgal2347]

This information needs to get put out… Not enough workers for national security! Super critical. I had no idea.

[@larrrs3]

Great information I'm old and retired but my friends that own businesses plumbers, electricians, contractors that spend most of there time looking for workers and when they find one and train them the big guys steal them away and it's starts all over. The young people in schools are being taught that they go to college and they won't have to work hard. That crap doesn't work I've got friends that there kids with kids are moving back into their folks house and refuse to get a job to get back out on their own they think some one is out there looking to give them that fancy corner office to work out of.

[@jonanderson5137]

It's not hard to keep good workers. Pay them. That's it. A lot of this is employer ego and not appraising the actual value of the guys they hire and train. Every company needs milestones for workers, they need to be concrete. Do X work get Y wages. This is why unions are so desirable. People don't and haven't changed.

[@larrrs3]

@@jonanderson5137 a friend's grandkid looking for work 18 years old never done anything physical in his life I told him if he was willing to work for 5 years never say no be on time an accountable that they would give him the 50-year-old company. He made it 2 days dug one ditch 2 feet deep 40 foot lond and only made it halfway and walked off the job because he didn't want to do physical labor. He could have done gruntwork and learned to be responsible but he just didn't want to work because it was hard work. When your learning a trade you don't start in the corner office you dig ditches and carry crap and sweep floors.

[@brucebaum1458]

@@jonanderson5137also important to keep a close eye on their managers, worked for Costco for 8 yrs great company but some of the managers were such a-holes they could make your job miserable.

[@TheBrewjo]

Concerned about unit costs for materials but doesn't see offices as a cost to be reduced... Each state might need a single office space for weekly meetings and document control but yeah, many of the office people could work from home just fine. Puts thousands of dollars back in the pocket of staff and allow people more time with their family without increased entitlements.

[@yellowknight97]

Indeed. If you're asking the questions about what did we learn from Covid and not realizing that spending 2-3 hrs a day driving downtown because "it's the office" isn't the most asinine thing we do as a nation, then you really didn't learn anything. Of course there's a time and place for some and not everyone is disciplined enough to do it. But your points are why it makes sense not to just poopooo it because "fairness"

[@CM-sy3to]

Work from home will NOT work unless processes are put in place to monitor productivity. Not cameras and computer timers, but actual productivity not just hours logged. Unfortunately we know most work from home employees started "working" multiple jobs.

[@rap36case]

Check Mondragon in the Basque country of Spain. Over 200 year old collection of employee owned companies.

[@k.compton8995]

Hopefully someone reads this. I work in aviation for one of the big commercial companies. I’m in maintenance and skilled labor with a license. The corporate structure has gotten so out of control and we’re being left in the dust. We were essential and still. The planes don’t fly without us. The money just isn’t there anymore. Unskilled labor is making as much as we are and the corporate side of the rewards it’s with a trickle down mindset that never makes it to us. Our benefits and pay are not comparable. Blue collar jobs on large unless you run your own company just don’t pay as much as corporate America. The companies are so top heavy that it seems there’s no end in sight. It doesn’t bother if a person can work from home but we should have different benefits like days off. Our time off disappears at a disproportionate rate compared to salary or corporate employees. There’s money to be made with blue-collar jobs, but the stigma keeps us underpaid compared to the oversaturated corporate world. If you have any questions about the aviation job world let me know Mike. Thanks

[@OfficallyMcRae]

I would love to speak with you regarding the auto industry. I’ve been in it for 22 years and managed for half that. I have been arguing for industry change for around the last 8 years to attract new talent. The industry is stuck in the 90s and old heads are still thinking the way we did it is still going to carry us through while the plane is crashing.

[@damiancayer2003]

It’s part of the ‘Distributist’ system. A middle way between capitalism and socialism talked about by GK Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc about 100 years ago. Based on a papal encyclical called Rerum Novarum written by Pope Leo XIII in the late 1800s about the problems caused by the industrial revolution and some possible solutions. The main bit being broad ownership of private property and capital instead of just a few people controlling/owning everything which is the end point of both capitalism and socialism. “The problem with capitalism is there’s too few capitalists!” - GK Chesterton.

[@peterwebb8732]

Chesterton is right, but you miss his point. Capitalism is not restricted to big business. Everyone who ploughs their money back into their own enterprise to increase future income is a Capitalist. Every farmer who owns their own farm. Every driver who owns their own truck. Every mechanic who owns his own tools and workshop. Every plumber that owns his own van. Every shopkeeper who owns the stock on his shelves. All of us who are self-employed and own the things we use to make an income, are Capitalists. Capitalism is a method, not a category of wealth.

[@damiancayer2003]

@@peterwebb8732 hi, I agree with you. That’s what I meant when I said broad ownership of private property. And in the quote, I take it to mean more people having their own capital instead of a few owners/ controllers and the rest workers/ wage slaves. I just bought my own acreage last year and trying to make it produce with my wife and kids. Best time of my life!

[@peterwebb8732]

@@damiancayer2003 Go for it! I’ve been working my own and my family’s land all my adult life. I cannot think of a more satisfying life and I have no intentions of retiring. Just don’t call it something other than what it is - small-scale capitalism. 👍Moving towards socialism is moving away from personal responsibility and initiative.

[@NemoBlank]

If people can benefit directly from their labor they will work hard and long. If you are just buying hours from people and they get nothing for completing the actual job, they soon realize that if they spend an hour sitting in a truck playing with their phone it's a pay raise.

[@luislozano6929]

I love the "gravity" part. The rest too, but that is an absolute absolute for those lovers of relativisms ... The few things you can regularly rely on: Gravity.

[@Saturn2888]

Interesting conversation. I mean, we imported all these folks from other countries to work in the tech sector to pump it up. It's no wonder there's a shortage of folks to work blue collar jobs. Rather than only a few people going to college, that's an expectation now, and it primes you for failure in any job, not just blue collar work. I think it's a perception issue. Once blue collar folks start making more money because of a shortage of people, I think the perception will change and the younger folks will aim to be in a blue collar career the same as how computer jobs didn't make you much in the 1950s, but it's a killer-pay job today.

[@Herbertalfredbert]

Great conversation and Mike is genuine and been such a good influence for the blue collar man but the blue shirt guy is drinking the same cool aide rhetoric we’ve heard for 75 years. He said his smartest guys are the CRO and COO. I’d like to know if his best field installer is making more than his chief revenue officer. Is his money where his mouth is?

[@DavidMartin-bx6wm]

My experience as an employee of various companies. These huge companies that are complaining about a labor shortage tend to also be the same companies that are also the first lining up to shut up the voice of their employees and stonewalling their employees for the sake of "shareholder value". I've also worked for companies snd currently do work for a company that understands business is about serving everyone and not just the customer and shareholders. Guess what... They also do not have a labor shortage either. It cracks me up how these folks complain but if they'd simply open their minds the answer is staring at them in the face. Lol.

[@DavidStratton-fv2ge]

Ownership makes sense for critical operatives in a business. The business can't make money if the critical operatives aren't there. Interesting that both sales people and production people recognised as critical. And of the two types of personnel, the sales guys and girls are the hardest to replace quickly. There were two examples of this.

[@ChrisGerstle]

Useless federal EPA staff are still remote working - pathetic! Shows how non essential they are

[@willmv4139]

Dunkin coffee? With a Nespresso coffee maker in the background?? mind blown :)) ...sorry I got distracted...hope it is not a procuct placement. Ah must be an office of hotel suite.

[@squeekytoys5911]

What a great video! Opened up my eyes to many points you both made. Thank you!

[@CM-sy3to]

Hampden-Sydney college is private and elite. This guy had a huge leg-up by either extreme intelligence getting scholarships or family money to get into that college.

[@jakec.4356]

Skeptically, I’ve worked for the same company for over 20 years 12+ hours/day and I am still broke … that part of the “American dream” has not arrived for most of us … can’t think of this just being another scheme of DIE in some gruesome disguise…

[@dmacarthur5356]

He mentions a lot of good points on why his business has been so successful and they are all valid. One thing he doesn't mention is that so many of the houses that are built today are shoddy and the basements will leak. I had a brand new house for about. 2 years before I had to call out JES to install a French drain in the basement. The housing developers are making customers left and right for this type of work.

[@jennteal5265]

It's deeper than that ... most basements weren't built to keep out water. They're not really _meant_ to be dry and most of those companies that install french drains are shady as heck. (your experience may have been different, just speaking generally). The amount I've learned from watching engineers and quality home inspectors explain basements and water intrusion has led me to believe that most in the industry of "waterproofing" basements are just out for a buck and don't care much for the consumer.

[@dmacarthur5356]

@@jennteal5265 Yeah, they really will never be 100% dry because water is relentless. The drains help out a lot to help manage the dampness levels.

[@bluemm2852]

This guy has it right. The majority of business owners do not. Edit: as long as he has nothing to do with the WEF

[@TheAnarchist01]

His investor kkr is connected to WEF. Employee ownership is their program... sure there may be good companies, but usually it are just meaningless words to make the human resources work harder for empty promises.

[@bluemm2852]

@@TheAnarchist01 yep he probably sucked one to get into the billionaire club. Another douchebag.

[@brothernorb8586]

​@@TheAnarchist01 What does that even mean? You want anyone to take your comment seriously, shouldn't it make sense? Otherwise why bother.

[@Sukisunn]

Mike Rowe, I see why you like this guy. If all big business owners where more like him. Would not have many of the problems we have today. He cusses a bit... I have something to say about that... Fuck ya! As some people like spicy foods... Some people like spicy language.

[@Sukisunn]

But unlike spicy food... Spicy language can not hurt you... Just saying.😎🤣

[@andrewdeen6319]

I love this dude!!

[@dalet9207]

I think Mike said this was recorded in August. This is October I am reading. Perhaps these recent hurricanes and all the damage done will bring many of these values and work abilities back.

[@mountaineerhideaway]

I love this story!!

[@NickNekko]

Walmart? Are you kidding me? They have had to pay millions upon millions in fines and lawsuits because of the way they mistreat employees. 🤮

[@CM-sy3to]

One of the few corporations that will train management from their first semester of community college and have them earning 100k+ in 5 years + free stocks each year.

[@bentheo]

I don’t think it is inherently unfair to let some employees work from home. Just compensate your employees fairly for their work situation. It is similar to a traveling salesperson or project manager who,for example, gets paid more commission/salary/bonus/per diem than an in office counterpart. One gets paid more because they do more. Everyone understands that. But I really like his POV on employee ownership.

[@bobjames2616]

Ok, so if this shared ownership model is the future, then where is the blueprint that was developed to make this work? I heard a lot of great words, but I didn't see or hear anything that could be utilized to replicate the co-ownership experience. "Hire good people" isn't enough to shine a light into how to build out a model that allows for the employee buy in that his organization has achieved.

[@peterwebb8732]

Every sole-operator, partnership or family-run business is “employee owned”. Ownership requires investment and responsibility. Don’t imagine that you can find a really functional employee-owned business that does not require the owners to invest in the company, take the risks and wear the costs. “Ownership” means that if the market drops or you make a bad decision, you lose money instead of making it. Ownership means paying for your own skill-development, your own tools, your own infrastructure.

[@jimallen8238]

This is not new. Read up on Mondragon from Spain. It was founded in 1956 and is Europe’s best example of a powerful, employee-owned company. There are books about it on Amazon.

[@davidzook8569]

​@@peterwebb8732most won't even entertain taking the risk. A couple years ago I was hemorrhaging money and these 2 particular employees knew damn well that was the case. Both who were already paid higher than average wages demanded more. One left almost immediately for the promise of a 7% increase. That only lasted a few months and he called looking for a job. Obviously, I told him I didn't have a place for him. The second left a few months later after being caught engaging in theft. His next job promised a 7-10% raise weekly. What they failed to mention was 2-3 out of 4 weeks would be less. He lasted less than 6 months has now left the field entirely. I've paid every employee I've ever had as much as possible and only a few have even cared whether I ate that week as long as their check cleared.

[@natehorton7531]

This is the kind of guy I'd like to work for. Not themultiple micro managing supervisors I'm so used to

[@KenHelsley]

Amen Brother! Amen.

[@jimallen8238]

For the skeptical, this is not a new idea. Take a look at Mondragon from Spain. The co-op model has been finely honed there. It is successful and it benefits its employees and the communities where it operates.

[@EvilvonScary]

Having same problems in the rail industry. We need the people but the work conditions can really suck and the corporate culture is toxic.

[@DavidMartin-bx6wm]

Shoddy workmanship is why I do a lot of my own home improvement projects. Because i can't afford the great contractors.

[@gcs8]

I can see the argument for returning to the office for some things, but I work in IT and my team is all over the state/country/world, what's the difference between me being on a Zoom call at home or in the office? At least at home, the background noise is way less and you can hear people clearly. But, even if those of us local went in, it would be 3-4 people out of ~20, it would be a downgrade in computer setup, more random people would show up to waste my time talking about non-work related crap, and I would have to go outside to get my nic-fix lowering my productivity.

[@johnkrneta5627]

I wonder what percentage of Groundworks stock is owned by their employees. It would have been nice to have been told that, since the title of the video is about employee ownership.

[@analysisonlight605]

This was a very interesting interview, but I found the last part extremely interesting. They have been pushing people to start going back to work instead of working from home. Now they are saying that those that work in the field are not being treated fairly because someone gets to work from home. First, someone working in the field is not going to think about where his CEO or office manager is working. If they worried about something like that it would be more correct to say, they are thinking, "I am working in the field, while the office guy is sitting in a nice cozy office with central heat and air." Second, I bet a lot of those men and some of the women working in the field would like it if their significant other could work from home and have an easier time taking care of the children. ..... There is definitely a push to get people back in the office. I wonder why? If they can do their job from home, what does anyone else care where they do it. I don't like options taken away. Some people want out of the house and would rather work at an office or in the field, others want to work from home. Parents that work from home have an easier time watching over their children. I really hope that keeping parents away from their children is not the reason they want people back at work.

[@CM-sy3to]

The question isn't IF one can work from home, but we know now that most WON'T work when home. Productivity has tanked.

[@michaellong2233]

sounds good, in theory, but the devil is in the details of the % an employee gets each year and what that translates to as each year goes by. Obviously, much better than a comparable salary and benefit with similar work at different company. I completely agree this should be the road forward in America. We've all been there to see our hard work and ideas be co-opted by those above us, or corporate, or shareholders to reap all the share of profit increases. The detail is everything though, b/c this to could be watered down to the point of being meaningless. Oh wow, all you employees are owners, that is awesome. What, all those employee owners only get 2% of the actual profit the company makes. It is just a recruitment marketing ploy at that point.

[@michaeldelarm1630]

Agreed. They're just giving you a tiny little raise, but they're bringing up "the vibe" at work, so people will feel better at work, be able to work longer... for not much more pay. This movement has stink all over it..... if rich people are pushing it, it ain't good for the common man.

[@MichaelDillin]

42:51 what happened to your sound Mike. Echo last few minutes only when you talk. Not a criticism just want to learn, that’s why I’m here. Thanks

[@brucebaum1458]

Don’t want to be in retail? Tell that to Costco shareholders.

[@jacobyellowhorse9781]

Mike Rowe is awesome

[@bobbyb.6644]

Take the “ Investor Class” OUT Of the Equation ! Win - Win is the Option ! 👍

[@CM-sy3to]

Yes! Because the interest is ridiculously high to make up for the investor (speculator) not knowing anything about the company they are investing in or understanding the financials.

[@karleells6540]

Come on Mike. ESOPs are never used to FOUND a business but are used to SELL a business - because it’s a huge tax advantage. This is never used up front to create small businesses.

[@karleells6540]

@@JJ-jn5lr so in a round a bout way you agree with me I guess. My point was Mike row should know that celebrating the creation of an ESOP out of an old company is mostly a tax strategy not an altruistic gesture.

[@mkstewet2]

The tipping point will come when all the people who do not value those skilled trades are sitting in the cold, dark, no food, no water, and feces floating around them and feel helpless because those people who keep all those things operating no longer are doing those things. The value of those jobs will then be worth so much more. There a story you can find on here from a College educated man with a wall full of papers who's car breaks down on the side of the road, and for all of his education he was helpless. A man shows up, greasy and dirty and solves the problem, and he realizes with all that education, who really was the smart person. It is actually interesting how some other countries don't have this problem, take Germany where skilled trades people are very highly valued and regarded. We could learn much from those ideas. Keep up with shining a light on these things and people like this.

[@misenplace8442]

Look after your people & they will look after you.