Employee stock ownership plan
Employee stock ownership plan (also known by its acronym, ESOP) is a company-established benefits plan in which employees acquire stock, often at below-market prices, as part of their benefits.
Definitions
According to Organizational Behavior by Robbins and Judge (17th edition),
- Employee stock ownership plan. A company-established benefits plan in which employees acquire stock, often at below-market prices, as part of their benefits.
According to Financial Management Theory and Practice by Eugene F. Brigham and Michael C. Ehrhardt (13th edition),
- ESOP (employee stock ownership plan). A type of benefit such as a retirement plan in which employees own stock in the company.
According to the HRBoK Guide,
- ESOP. Employee stock ownership plan. A tax-qualified benefit plan with defined contributions that allows employees to own shares in a company.