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Which country has the best employee stock ownership programs?

Apparently, Germany is currently not.

In a new ranking, the Federal Republic landed again in last place, together with Belgium.

The “Not Optional” initiative works for better regulations for employee participation programs (ESOP) across Europe.

Behind this is the VC investor Index Ventures, many prominent founders such as Christian Reber from Pitch or Johannes Reck from Getyourguide have joined the demands.

In its ranking, the initiative lists in which countries employee participation programs are implemented and how well.

Germany in last place in terms of employee participation

The Baltic states Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania perform best in the current list.

In Latvia, there was only recently a tax reform that benefits start-up employees.

For example, you can now redeem your company shares after one year instead of the previous three years.

Germany, on the other hand, is in last place together with Belgium, as it was before.

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Unfortunately nothing new, says Christian Miele, partner at the venture capitalist Eventures and president of the German Start-up Association.

The lobby group is drummed up with the #ESOPasap campaign for better employee participation programs in Germany, and Miele also supports the “Not Optional” initiative: “The point now is that we change something so that it doesn't get so embarrassing next time,” he says .

The federal government actually sees it similarly.

Before the end of this legislative period, she has decided to reform employee participation in Germany.

In November of last year, Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz presented an official draft bill.

Start-up scene criticizes the draft law

But so far this has not been well received in the start-up scene.

Nikolas Samios from Proptech1 criticized crucial points of the submission in a guest contribution to "Gründerszene".

Christian Miele is also calling for improvements: "With the current draft that is now available, we cannot play in the league of start-up nations."

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Specifically, the criticism from the scene is directed, for example, at the fact that, according to the current draft, the company shares are only taxed lower if an employee does not leave the company.

In addition, larger start-ups (250 or more employees) are excluded from the tax breaks.

There is not much time left for the new law to be launched before the general election in November.

The draft is to be submitted to parliament for a vote in the coming weeks.

This text comes from a cooperation with the magazine "Gründerszene".

Click on the links, leave welt.de and land in the articles at gruenderszene.de.

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