Aligning worker and corporate interests

Here are two approaches to solve the problem of aligning worker interests with the corporate interests:

1. Home owners are, in general, more likely to take good care of their property than renters are. Similarly, workers who have an ownership in a company are more likely to be interested and productive than if they simply “work there.” Give workers stock options.
2. When someone else makes all the decisions (about how to solve a problem, which alternative to take, etc.) then workers have no incentive to be creative and are not motivated. Give workers real decision-making power.

— Extracted from The Wisdom of Crowds by James Suroweicki

Organizations: Implement the No Asshole Rule

In a Harvard Business Review essay, Robert Sutton urged companies to implement no asshole rules: to refuse to hire people – even superstars – who are known jerks, and when insiders had episodes in which they belittled and bullied others – especially those with less power – they should be called on immediately. Sutton pointed out that firms that applied such rules would likely enjoy less turnover and absenteeism, lower health care costs, and reduced litigation risks. He also pointed out that some companies already have such rules, and such rules do help them maintain more civilized workplaces.

— Hard Facts by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton

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Here’s a related blog: Do Rules of Polite, Civilized Behavior Apply at Work?