Partners on the Payroll: Improve Your Company’s Results

Over the past twenty-five years, Bill Fotsch has helped more than four hundred companies boost employee engagement and increase profits. He has worked with industry majors, such as Southwest Airlines, BHP, Harley-Davidson, Roadway Express, Carlson Wagonlit Travel (now CWT), Scottish Hydro Electric, and Capital One. He has also coached many small-to-medium-sized privately owned businesses.

In the initial years of his career, Bill gained experience in management, marketing, and consulting at organizations such as Briggs & Stratton, Bain & Company, Case International, and Litton Industrial Automation. Later, as head coach at Great Game of Business, he spent over two decades applying the principles of economic engagement to help companies deliver results through a highly motivated staff. He founded Open-Book Coaching in 2012 to continue the work on his own.

Bill holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he graduated as a Baker Scholar. This is his first book.

John Case is an internationally known writer on management and employee ownership. He is author of the classic works Open-Book Management (Harper) and The Open-Book Experience: Lessons from Over 100 Companies Who Successfully Transformed Themselves (Addison-Wesley). He has written for Inc., Harvard Business Review, and many other magazines. He has collaborated on several other books, including the international bestseller Financial Intelligence, published by Harvard Business Review Press.

Articles written by Bill and John have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Inc., Forbes, and several other publications and websites.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Indigo River Publishing (February 8, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1954676115
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1954676114
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.38 x 9 inches

“We don’t have ‘hired hands’ any more. Bill has helped everyone at One Week Bath think like partners.” ― Matt Plaskoff, President and CEO One Week Bath

“I love this book! It leads and teaches everything I believe in and have tried to do for the last 20-plus years. In that time we have grown from $7.5 million (which it took 20 years to get to) to over $125 million this year! I know it works and so does every one of my partners! Thanks, Bill!” ― Robert Griggs, Founder and President Trinity Products

“I read it straight through. What incredible experiences Bill has had coaching companies to build extraordinary success! The feeling of coaching our team and witnessing employees transforming into business partners will stay with me for a long time. Having led a company this way it feels completely foreign to try any other way. Why would you keep employees in the dark? Why would you try to shoulder the burden of solving business problems all to yourself?”  ― Melissa Hamilton, Board member and former CEO Stellar

“The pandemic brought unique challenges to healthcare providers like us. Using this approach allowed us to make dramatic strides in profitability and overall patient care. But culture and employee engagement have always been important, too, and the approach reinforces important cultural aspects like economic engagement, transparency, and teamwork.”  ― Guru Sankar, Managing Partner AFC Urgent Care Portland

“A wonderfully readable book that will help every company owner and manager get the most from their teams. It shows how companies should run—with people, principles and profits.”  ― Ronald Saks, President and CEO LMI Aerospace

“Helping every associate understand how they contribute to the organization’s success is key, and we were able to accomplish that in Productions Services at Capital One. Partners on the Payroll wonderfully illustrates the value of all employees acting as committed and engaged owners.” ― Dan Mortensen, CEO Virginia Council on Economic Education, Former Executive Capital One

“We have nothing but partners on our payroll at Comfort Supply. Everyone’s an owner, and everyone understands the business. I recommend this book to every entrepreneur.”  ― Clay Blevins, President and CEO Comfort Supply

“We worked with Bill Fotsch for many years and he was instrumental in helping us implement open-book management. This management practice elevates employee engagement and creates true partners that work together for the greater good.” ― Elizabeth Wilder, President and CEO Anthony Wilder Design/Build

“Our company experienced serious challenges following the global financial crisis, and Bill Fotsch helped us navigate them. Today we’re a stronger business thanks to the ideas Bill outlines in this book.” ― David J. Pring, CEO Post Form Laminating

“Bill helped our company operate more profitably by engaging everyone in the economics of the business. This book will show you how to do it.” ― Angus Beasley, Cofounder Adams + Beasley Associates

“You’ll want to buy a copy of this book for everyone on your team, and then put its ideas into action. Quite simply, it’s a better way to run a company.” ― Janet Wheatley, Vice President, Traveler Services North and Latin America, Carlson Wagonlit Travel

“Through working with Bill I was able to participate in the process of bringing company and employee goals to the table, resulting in the parties working together instead of at cross purposes. Bill’s work made a big difference.” ― Warren Johncock, Union Delegate

“An extremely helpful book. It’s the way we run our company.” ― Richard Feuerborn, CFO and Principal Engineer, FA Engineering