Employee participation in UK Sharesave schemes: a firm-level analysis

Employee records and interviews are used to ascertain the reasons why employees do and do not participate in Sharesave schemes in three companies in the UK retail sector. A model is used to compare the reasons for participation and non-participation given in the literature to the findings of this research. This paper's interpretivist approach brings out the direct views of employees placing equal emphasis on non-participants' views as well as those of participants. The benefits of such schemes claimed by Government and employers are not found to influence participation. Employees saw such schemes as a simple way to save. Non-participation was predominantly due to the employee not expecting to remain with the company.

Special Issue: Comparative perspectives on HR and line manager relationships and their effects on employees.