The ESOP is a scam. You don't own anything. Ownership entails being able to vote for the board of directors, your ESOP doesn't get you any vote. The ESOP is a tax advantaged way for management to get low cost capital and to preserve their control. Go ahead, ask your branch manager when the vote for the Board of Directors is and when you will get your ballot. See what type of owner you are. Guess, "silent partner" would be a better description. Speaking of silent partners, best thing at this company to do is keep your mouth shut and your head down, especially if your not from North Dakota/Minnesota. Learn to accept the fact that no matter how hard you work, you are an outsider. Make peace with the fact that the kid from Minneapolis will get hired for more than you, promoted faster than you and eventually be your boss. This company is built on cronyism. If you think I'm lying, go to the website and look at photos of management. How many minority members of the board are there? How many minority branch managers? How can you have a company where half the staff are minorities but where basically all upper management is white? I'm not saying its illegal or it breaks the law, but know that management will hire the niece or nephew of someone they know with no experience before they hire an experienced stranger. Changing the topic, if possible, you can get a job here as a warehouse associate and play the game, get the training and get a CDL. Seriously, the day you get that CDL, go work somewhere else. I did that and went from working my butt off for $35K a year to making $60k a year working 40 hours a week.
