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Worker Cooperatives and Well-Being: What New Research Reveals
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A recent study by Yanni Liang, PhD, Cooperative Researcher at the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives offers new insight into how worker cooperatives can support employee mental health and overall well-being. Based on interviews with members of 14 U.S. worker cooperatives, the research found that four key features of cooperative workplaces contribute to healthier and more supportive work environments: normalizing mental health, building workplace community, strengthening job security, and creating meaningful work.
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Worker cooperatives are businesses owned and controlled by the people who work there. Workers have a voice in major decisions, help shape workplace policies, and share in the benefits of the business's success. According to study participants, this democratic structure helps create conditions that support both individual and collective well-being.
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Workers linked their well-being to four key features of cooperative workplaces:
- Normalizing mental health
- Building workplace community
- Creating meaningful work
- Strengthening job security
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The study found that worker cooperatives often treat mental health as a workplace issue rather than solely an individual responsibility. Because workers help shape policies, cooperatives are able to implement practices such as flexible schedules, wellness days, workplace-wide rest periods, and peer support systems. Many co-ops also foster open conversations about mental health through regular check-ins, staff surveys, and wellness committees. Participants described cultures where asking for help is accepted and workers are encouraged to support one another through challenges.
The research also highlighted the importance of workplace community. Many workers identified a strong sense of connection and belonging as one of the greatest benefits of being a member of a worker cooperative. Participants emphasized shared goals, mutual care, and solidarity among coworkers. Workers frequently described their cooperatives as places where people "have each other's backs," collaborate to solve problems, and navigate disagreements respectfully. This sense of community can reduce feelings of isolation while strengthening both worker well-being and organizational resilience.
Job security emerged as another significant contributor to mental health. Workers reported that shared ownership and participation in decision-making created a greater sense of stability and trust. During difficult economic periods, many worker cooperatives prioritize retaining jobs over short-term financial performance, often choosing to reduce hours or earnings rather than lay off workers. Participants also pointed to recruitment, mentorship, and ownership pathways that build long-term commitment and retention.
Finally, workers described their jobs as more meaningful because they are respected, heard, and connected to a larger purpose. Having a voice in workplace decisions, greater autonomy, and opportunities to contribute to their communities helped workers feel invested in both their work and their cooperative's success. The study suggests that when people have ownership, agency, and strong relationships at work, both well-being and workplace outcomes can benefit.
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Co-op Highlight: Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprise
When a large pulp and paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids announced its closure in June 2020, people throughout the timber industry were concerned about what the closure would mean for their businesses and communities. Loggers, truckers, and other industry partners in Wisconsin and Michigan, connected through the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, began looking for ways to keep the mill locally owned and operating.
In August 2020, they formed the Timber Professionals Cooperative (TPC) as a Chapter 185 non-stock cooperative in Wisconsin. USDA cooperative developer Margaret Bau and UWCC co-op developer Kelly Maynard helped the group get started. This cooperative gave timber industry partners a way to work together to explore different mill purchases and apply for state and federal grants. In 2022, TPC received a USDA Forest Service grant to support this work.
While attempts in the first several years to purchase the Wisconsin Rapids mill and later a smaller mill in Park Falls were unsuccessful, the group remained committed to the values that cooperative ownership would bring to their industry. In 2022, they identified a chip mill in Tilleda, WI, as a realistic purchase opportunity. In 2023, the Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises (TCPE) was incorporated as a Chapter 185 stock cooperative of loggers and logging truckers that better enabled them to receive investment.
They worked diligently to raise the capital needed to purchase the mill. They raised over $400,000 in preferred stock and secured a local bank loan and a USDA loan guarantee. In October 2025, TPCE completed the purchase of the Tilleda mill, bringing it under cooperative ownership.
Since the purchase, TPCE has focused on making the transition to cooperative ownership successful. The cooperative hired a general manager who has helped guide the transition and hire a new mill manager. UWCC continues to support the general manager on an ongoing basis around policy and governance. In April 2026, UWCC and Margaret Bau provided a full day of board training to the TPCE Board of Directors. The Board and their general manager continue to seek opportunities for purchase of other mills that can support their membership. They most recently were awarded a $1million Wood Innovations Grant from the US Forest Service that will allow them to purchase equipment to modernize the Tilleda mill and possibly other mills.
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Save the Date: CCMA 2027
June 3-5, 2027 | Ithaca, New York
We are thrilled to bring CCMA to New York for the first time in its 70-year history!
Nestled in New York's Finger Lakes region, Ithaca is known for its vibrant cooperative community, stunning natural beauty, and lively downtown. With more than 100 waterfalls within 10 miles of downtown Ithaca, attendees will have plenty to explore while connecting with fellow food cooperative leaders.
GreenStar Food Co+op is a consumer cooperative collectively owned by more than 14,000 member-owners. Serving the Ithaca community through three locations, GreenStar has a long-standing commitment to cooperative values, local food systems, and community engagement.
We look forward to welcoming the food co-op community to Ithaca for an unforgettable CCMA experience. More details will be announced in the coming months.
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In Brief: Resources and Updates
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Pressure Relief: What Cooperatives Can (and Can’t) Do for Child Care
What role can cooperatives play in addressing the child care crisis? In the latest Practicing Connection episode UWCC Cooperative Development Specialist Kristin Forde Hurckes, joins a thoughtful conversation about the opportunities and limitations of cooperative approaches to child care. The discussion explores how cooperative models can support families, providers, and communities while recognizing the broader policy and funding challenges that cooperatives alone cannot solve. Listen in for practical insights, real-world perspectives, and a nuanced look at how cooperation can help relieve pressure on today’s child care system.
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If you are interested in learning more about childcare cooperatives, consider attending the Cooperative Childcare Solutions webinars in October. More details below under Upcoming Events.
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Training for New Employees of Cooperatives
October 14, 2026, 9:30 - 11:00 am
October 21, 2026, 9:30 - 11:00 am
Zoom
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This training is designed for employees of cooperatives seeking to deepen their understanding of the cooperative model. By the end of this training, attendees will have a stronger grasp of the cooperative identity and its impact on communities and economies.
This training is only for cooperatives based in Wisconsin. Registration closes September 25.
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Cooperative Childcare Solutions Webinars
October 15, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
October 22, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
October 29, 2026, 12- 1 pm CT
Zoom
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The childcare crisis is affecting rural communities across the country, creating challenges for families, employers, and childcare providers alike. Join the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Services for a webinar exploring innovative solutions. Drawing on eight months of firsthand research, presenters will share how rural communities are addressing childcare gaps through collaboration, advocacy, and cooperative approaches.
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