Introduction to the French worker cooperatives (SCOP)

In France, worker cooperatives (SCOPs) give workers principal ownership and voting rights. Sociétés coopératives d’intérêt collectif (SCICs) are multistakeholder cooperatives where workers hold one category of membership. There are currently 4,500 SCOPs and SCICs in France, employing 85,000 people and making €9.4 billion. SCOPs have at least 51% worker ownership and 65% voting rights. Surplus is distributed to workers according to their work (at least 25%, usually 40%), enterprise reserves (at least 15%, usually 45%) and member capital (up to 33%). Thanks to the indivisibility of reserves, it is difficult for the cooperatives to be sold to third parties, which helps preserve their cooperative identity. They reinvest profits and prioritise training, leading to high survival rates. The history of French worker cooperatives goes back to the early 19th century, with big legislative steps in 1978 and a growth surge in the 1980s. They have common financial instruments in both credit and equity to facilitate financial operations. Studies show high worker satisfaction with worker cooperatives, showing the success of combining collective and individual aspects of work.