Hi! Welcome to Obran.
You’re probably wondering what’s happening.
Apollo Home Healthcare has joined Obran Cooperative. This means that ownership of Apollo has been transitioned from Tejas and Trupti Kotecha to worker-owned Obran Cooperative. The key word is: cooperative. This means the business is owned and managed by the people who work here everyday, now that includes YOU!
Obran is different from a traditional business in many ways, and we’re excited to share the details with you.
The first thing you need to know is that your daily work will stay mostly the same. Everyone’s job is secure. Changes will continue like they always have, but what is different is you will have more opportunities to have a say in what happens in your work, and when the business does well, we all benefit.
1
Okay, so my job is secure. But is anything else going to change?
Yes, there are always changes. We continue to get better at serving our by patients and taking care of each other. Obran purchased Apollo because we recognize the great work that is already happening here, so the goal is to continue this. Keep on doing what we have been doing and make small, steady improvements.
So, at Obran we prioritize sharing ideas with each other, educating each other on our work, and on how the business runs. This helps each of us make smarter decisions that help each other and help our business, which is OUR business, because it is owned by all of us. Hopefully you will continue to find more opportunities to connect, learn and share.
2
Great! So, what is Obran, exactly?
Obran is a worker-owned cooperative conglomerate. We grow our cooperative by buying small, successful businesses, like Apollo, and converting them from traditional companies into worker-owned businesses. Obran is owned by its members, and if you decide to elect membership, you can become a worker-owner as well.
Becoming a worker-owner at Obran is a choice, and you’re under no obligation to join. But as a member of Obran, you’ll get to influence important decisions about how Apollo does business, and have a stake in the larger cooperative.
3
What is an Obran Cooperative Member?
An Obran Cooperative Member is a worker-owner. As a cooperative member, you'll own your work and be entitled to the benefits of ownership. While our members all have different roles as workers—such as home health aides, artists, executives, and HR administrators—we have just one title as Obran Cooperative worker-owners: Member.
4
Interesting. What are the benefits of being a Member of Obran?
As a cooperative member, you’ll receive all of your regular Apollo benefits, plus:
1% pay increase
The right to vote in elections for the Apollo Board, the Obran Board, and certain major member-wide decisions
Annual profit sharing across all Obran companies
The right to run for positions on the Apollo Board and the Obran Board, and to join Obran Committees
Access to free personal enrichment classes
Home purchasing education and support (US only)
Discounted financial planning services
As we grow together, Obran will seek to provide additional benefits based on member preferences, including low-fee or no-fee lending and debit card services. Decisions around member benefits is just one example of how your voice can help drive change and shape the future of the cooperative!
5
Sounds great! How do I become a Member?
Cooperative membership comes with rights, responsibilities and rewards. Here are the basic requirements for becoming a member:
Buy a membership share in Obran: $250 USD *
Make a contribution to your Obran account: at least 1% of your wages *
Work a minimum of 10 hours per year
Attend at least 3 member meetings each year
Pass a waiting period to gain voting rights
Optional: Complete member training
* These contributions are not dues. They do not disappear but rather sit in an account that is reserved for you. These are withheld post-tax and placed into your personal internal capital account, a savings account within Obran. If you ever leave, you will be able to withdraw all of your deposits. The minimum balance for this account is $250 plus 1% of your net income.
6
Is there anything I need to prepare for?
We have scheduled some informational sessions to orient and welcome you to Obran Cooperative and will develop more activities with you as we get to know each other. We hope that you will join us at the following events and stay tuned for more. We’ll be in regular communication with you about upcoming activities!
7
I’d like to know more!
We know that you probably have more questions! We have compiled answers to some frequently asked questions and hope you will take the time to review them.