The good news is we can change course, and some in the business world are starting to do so. Over the course of the last year, we interviewed dozens of CEOs, academics, and other business leaders to understand how our economy is changing from one that rewards shareholders to one that cares about stakeholders. The former CEO of PayPal, Dan Schulman, was appalled to learn one of his employees was selling plasma to pay their bills. He quickly set a goal of moving net disposable income for its employees from an ...

Core Insights - The increase in billionaire wealth, amounting to $33 trillion since 2015, is attributed to rising stock market values, primarily funded by retail investors and 401(k) plans [1] - Mark Cuban advocates for companies to provide stock ownership to all employees, suggesting that they should receive shares proportional to their cash earnings, similar to CEOs [1] - Cuban emphasizes that wealth accumulation by leaders is acceptable if it benefits all employees, promoting a model of compassion in capitalism rather than greed [4] Company Practices - Companies like Intel and Adobe offer stock purchase plans where employees can buy shares at a discount, with Intel allowing up to 15% of salary and Adobe up to 25%, both capped at $21,250 annually [2] - Cuban has a history of sharing profits with employees through cash bonuses rather than equity, highlighting a model where employees benefit directly from company success [5][6] - In past ventures, Cuban has distributed significant bonuses to employees, resulting in many becoming millionaires, demonstrating a commitment to employee wealth sharing [6]

Core Points - Charter Communications has launched an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) to encourage employee ownership and reward tenure [1][2] - The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase Charter stock through payroll deductions, with a matching grant of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) based on tenure [2][3] - The company offers competitive starting wages, comprehensive health benefits, a market-leading retirement plan, and tuition-free education programs [4] Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) - The ESPP enables eligible employees to contribute up to 15% of their pay, with a maximum of $5,000 per year, to purchase Charter stock [2] - Employees receive RSUs that fully vest after three years, incentivizing long-term career growth within the company [2][3] - Participants can adjust or withdraw contributions during each six-month purchase period, enhancing accessibility [3] Employee Benefits - Charter provides a starting wage of at least $20 per hour, nearly three times the federal minimum wage [4] - The company has absorbed the full annual cost increase of health benefits for the last 12 years [4] - Charter offers a retirement plan with a company contribution of up to 9% per year and covers 100% of tuition costs for full-time employees pursuing select degrees [4] Company Overview - Charter Communications is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator, serving over 57 million homes and businesses in 41 states [5] - The company operates under the Spectrum brand and provides a full range of residential and business services, including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile, and Voice [5]