Not only are more and more medium-sized companies discovering the advantages of a staff profit-sharing scheme for themselves, but also the level of acceptance by staff of the idea of owning a share in their own company is rising all the time. Thus, as early as 1999, in the context of am emnid-survey, 57 % of the staff questioned even expressed a willingness to go without their wages or salary in times of crisis if, as a result, their own jobs could be safeguarded. Doubtless a comparable level of acceptance also exists where male and female staff are given the opportunity to convert a portion of their wages into an equity interest, which means they will not forego their wages, and, at the same time, their jobs will be safeguarded.