The
Employee Shareholders Association of ING wishes
the conditions could be soon back for employee
share ownership to get a new start in the Group.
The
Employee Shareholders Association of BBL (now
ING) was born in 1992. At this time, BBL was
a leader company, considering employee share
ownership. For a long time, all employees of
the bank were encouraged to take part in the
capital of the company. They held 8,5% of the
shares, being its second major shareholder.
Following its integration to ING Group, employee
share ownership felt dramatically along years.
The Group had no interest for employee participation
in capital. Furthermore, ING used shares with
no voting rights, which discouraged participation.
In
recent years, the contrast was gripping between
ING and the rest of the market. Employee ownership
gets general support, it is progressing and
its beneficial effects are proven and recognized.
At European level:
Employee ownership is considered as worthwhile
for the beneficiaries, as it is practiced in
good conditions. It also increases the enterprises
performances. It contributes to quality
employment and to public
health. It is a factor of employment creation
and it is recognized by the European Union as
an element of its 2020 Strategy. It is also
a factor of sustainable
development and an element for corporate
social responsibility. Countries where employee
ownership is the most appreciated are those
who have been developing it for a long time
and where the good practices had the time to
prove their worth. In this way, at European
level, we are going to a
recognized whole combination of good practices
rules.
