A start-up company demands long hours, while promising great rewards to the owners if they are successful. Start-ups also bear a relatively high risk of failure. Helping mitigate the risks and recognizing the contribution by employees who make success possible, made their decision to share ownership a natural and obvious conclusion. Employee-owners work harder and longer knowing that they will benefit when the company prospers. Employee ownership allows EPIC to recruit competitively in a very tight technical labor market, while helping them retain key employees.
Initial grants are fairly standard based on the employee's level in the organization.
Subsequent grants are performance-based. EPIC also provides option bonuses for project specific activities that require effort above and beyond the already high standards in place. In other words, employee ownership is very well received. They truly believe it is a key facet to thier ongoing success. In an effort to maintain open communication channels with the employee-owners they have monthly communications meetings where they discuss current events and often mention the option program.