"We have an agreement among us to do whatever is necessary to support an employee-owned company," Bryan says.

The stock does not trade publicly, but under the rules of an employee-owned company, a value is placed on the shares each year.

The deal would create the nation's largest employee-owned company.

Sleep Train, an employee-owned company, currently has more than 685 employees.

But downsizing among employee-owned companies is turning out to be much more common than anyone realized.

When he retired in 1966 it became an employee-owned company.

"We have had many outstanding candidates express interest in leading our employee-owned company," he said.

Another option is the fairly innovative approach of an employee-owned company.

And it is particularly pertinent at a time that the number of employee-owned companies seems to be growing again (see box).

I therefore think it is important that we support employee-owned companies and make things easier for them.