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Worker Cooperative Accounting
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Patronage calculation
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Patronage should be divided based on the workers' "contribution" to the enterprise.
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Contribution can be calculated in simpler or more complicated ways.
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The best system should be fair, transparent and understandable, and agreed upon democratically.
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Assumptions
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$ 100,000
Total patronage to divide
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Method 1: Based on hours
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The simplest calculation, assuming all labor hours are of equal contribution
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MemberHours worked Work units contributed AllocationIndividual patronage
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Amy 2,000 = 2,000 =39.2%= $ 39,216
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Bernard 1,500 = 1,500 =29.4%= $ 29,412
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Camille 1,000 = 1,000 =19.6%= $ 19,608
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Dahlia 500 = 500 =9.8%= $ 9,804
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Esteban 100 = 100 =2.0%= $ 1,961
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5,100 5,100 100.0% $ 100,000
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Method 2: Based on hours and job skill
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Some jobs, by their nature, could contribute more than others.
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MemberHours workedcontribution factor Work units contributed AllocationIndividual patronage
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Amy 2,000 x1.5= 3,000 =45.5%= $ 45,455
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Bernard 1,500 x1.2= 1,800 =27.3%= $ 27,273
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Camille 1,000 x1.2= 1,200 =18.2%= $ 18,182
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Dahlia 500 x1.0= 500 =7.6%= $ 7,576
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Esteban 100 x1.0= 100 =1.5%= $ 1,515
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5,100 6,600 100.0% $ 100,000
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Method 3: Use wages as a proxy for contribution
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Wages (or salaries) could stand in as a skill factor for relative contribution.
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MemberHours workedWagecontribution factor Work units contributed AllocationIndividual patronage
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Amy 2,000 x $ 15 ->1.5= 3,000 =45.5%= $ 45,455
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Bernard 1,500 x $ 12 ->1.2= 1,800 =27.3%= $ 27,273
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Camille 1,000 x $ 12 ->1.2= 1,200 =18.2%= $ 18,182
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Dahlia 500 x $ 10 ->1.0= 500 =7.6%= $ 7,576
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Esteban 100 x $ 10 ->1.0= 100 =1.5%= $ 1,515
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5,100 6,600 100.0% $ 100,000
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Method 4: The 3-part method
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This method uses a combination of W2 income, hours worked, and years served to determine contribution.
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MemberW2 IncomeHours workedYears
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Amy$50,000 2,000 10
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Bernard$40,000 1,500 10
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Camille$40,000 1,000 8
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Dahlia$25,000 500 5
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Esteban$10,000 100 1
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165,000 5,100 34
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Member%%%
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Amy30.3%39.2%29.4%
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Bernard24.2%29.4%29.4%
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Camille24.2%19.6%23.5%
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Dahlia15.2%9.8%14.7%
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Esteban6.1%2.0%2.9%
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100.0%100.0%100.0%
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Weight50%25%25%
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MemberW2 patronagehours patronageyears patronageTotal
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Amy$15,152$9,804$7,353$32,30832.3%
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Bernard$12,121$7,353$7,353$26,82726.8%
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Camille$12,121$4,902$5,882$22,90622.9%
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Dahlia$7,576$2,451$3,676$13,70313.7%
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Esteban$3,030$490$735$4,2564.3%
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$ 50,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 100,000 100.0%
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