Love Your Employees As Yourself (1.3.12)

The trend is come in late leave early, no benefits.

Or, "if you want a real check, like try the government office."

But Joe Lueken, the 46 year owner of "Lueken's Village Foods" in Bemidgji Minnesota, a town of 13,000, says otherwise:

"You  can't always take. You also have to give back." (11.23.12, Minnesota Star Tribune, Larry Oakes).

So, he is giving his four hundred employees his two very profitable stores (the other is in North Dakota), and making them owners, with thier shares based on seniority.

It's called an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP).

Holy Esop's alive!

For mercy sake.

Stocks just got interesting for regular folks, not just something for Washington and CNBC to moon about.

Besides, it's the right thing to do. So for Joe it's a done deal. 

Because he and his kids are as rich as they need to be (and they are going to get some of their money out after five years anyway).

Because as his son Jeff says if they sold out to some love 'em and leave 'em corporation "the reward wouldn't go to the proper people." 

Because brother Joe would rather provide an opportunity to make 400 people (and then some) prosperous and be able to send their kids to college than take the quick cash.

It's better to give than receive.

Love your employee as yourself.

Perhaps, better days are coming, as a new trend comes out of North Central Minnesota?

Praise Jesus for Joe Lueken, spreading the gospel as we live and breath.