However, despite the obvious benefits and increasing popularity of these participation programs, companies also encounter challenges. There are specific mistakes that should be avoided to ensure the full effectiveness of employee share ownership programs.

There are numerous aspects and options to consider when setting up a participation program. The following points are examples of some of the most common and important considerations that are crucial on the way to a tailored, effective participation program.

If the agreement of a VSOP contains disadvantageous provisions to the detriment of the beneficiaries, the triggers of which lie solely in the decision-making power of the company or the investors and cannot be influenced by the beneficiaries, the virtual participation programme has failed in its purpose.

Often only associated with start-ups - in this article, we explain why employee participation is relevant far beyond the start-up scene and why it can also be an important instrument for SMEs.

Employee participation is a key element of a successful and future-oriented corporate culture. A prominent model for this is the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Successfully implemented in many countries, the ESOP model has encountered considerable problems in Germany.

Entrepreneurs do not simply retire: they hand over their company to a successor. However, the search for a suitable successor is becoming increasingly complicated for a variety of reasons. The greatest challenge lies in demographic change: There are too few potential successors.

Germany as a business location is characterized by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The 3.6 million SMEs here generate around half of the gross national product. They also employ around 60 % of Germany's workforce subject to social insurance contributions.

Employee ownership in companies is increasingly used as an instrument for employee motivation and retention, both in startups and SMEs. Companies with employee ownership are on average significantly more productive than comparable companies without employee ownership.

In recent years, German SMEs have had a huge problem: attracting new employees. It is even more difficult to attract skilled workers if you cannot pay high salaries. Nevertheless, you have the opportunity to attract top trained specialists - namely with employee shareholdings.

For a long time, company succession worked according to the principle: the eldest son or, in a pinch, the daughter, a younger son or a nephew continue to run the company if the previous company manager wanted to pass on the baton. In some companies, business succession still works this way.

Motivating your employees is more important than ever in times of a shortage of skilled workers. Top employees of generations Y and Z in particular attach great importance to their working environment. Flexibility and appreciation are important to them. There are various concepts for employee motivation.

In the modern and fast-moving world of work, it is increasingly important for companies to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees in the long term. Innovative companies, especially start-ups and SMEs, are therefore increasingly using employee stock ownership programs such as ESOPs or VSOPs.

Almost all companies are subject to daily competition. If you want to be better than your competitors, you need to have top employees who can easily cope with new challenges and innovations. However, turnover is particularly high at the higher levels in the hierarchy.

Skills shortages, demographic change and other changes in the world of work mean that employers are constantly having to come up with new measures to attract, motivate and retain employees in the long term. Let's take a closer look at some of the most relevant measures!

Employee shareholdings, especially in start-ups, aim to give employees a direct stake in the success and growth of the company instead of paying them a high salary. In addition, such shareholdings give employees real voting rights and allow them to significantly influence entrepreneurial decisions.

With real and virtual employee stock ownership plans (ESOP/VSOP), employees can participate directly in the success of "their" company. As an employer, you not only increase your attractiveness on the labor market, but also create constant performance incentives during the ongoing employment relationship.

In the case of virtual stock option plans (VSOPs), employees are given largely the same economic status as a real shareholder by means of a contractual agreement, without actually participating in the company's share capital.

Employee share ownership offers companies the opportunity to allow their employees to participate directly or indirectly in the company's success. Through participation, employees receive direct consideration and financial recognition for their own (increased) performance.

Virtual employee stock ownership plans (VSOPs) are an excellent way of circumventing the disadvantages - particularly in terms of administrative effort - of "real" shareholdings. VSOP contracts also have some tax advantages. However, employees should be aware of certain clauses that may be disadvantageous to them.

VSOPs are virtual stock option plans. In this way, the employer gives the employee a share in the company's success without real company shares (such as GmbH shares or stock) changing hands.

Employee stock ownership plans create attractive incentives for employees in key positions. At the same time, ESOPs and VSOPs (real and virtual shareholdings) are a proven means of increasing motivation and loyalty to the employer.