An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is one of the ways by which employees of a company own company shares. Companies grant shares and stocks to their employees in different ways. A bonus payout is one such way of giving a share of the profits. Another option is to buy shares directly from the company and the third option is to get ESOPs.
ESOPs are common across many countries in the world. In the U.S., startup and even big companies offer ESOPs to their employees. Started in 1974, they have evolved ever since. Thousands of companies have ESOPs and this list is growing by the day. On the other hand it is growing among the NRIs – non resident Indians living in USA, UK, Singapore, Canada & Australia