Loconomics Ownership

1. Statement of Values Regarding Ownership. The vast majority of Owners of Loconomics will be independent or freelance service professionals, in order to ensure that Loconomics operates, first and foremost, to advance the status, stability, and interests of freelance workers. The employees and independent contractors who grow and run the company can also become Owners, to help ensure that Loconomics provides healthy and positive working conditions to everyone who works for the company. In addition, Loconomics may accept three types of organizations to be Owners. To promote worker empowerment and self-determination, Loconomics may welcome worker-owned cooperatives to become Owners. To promote delivery of services to low-income communities, Loconomics may invite certain nonprofit organizations to become Owners and use the platform to offer pro bono and donation-based services to low-income communities. And to promote the expansion of platform cooperatives worldwide, Loconomics may negotiate agreements with licensing partners to become Owners and use Loconomics’ technology to create platform cooperatives in areas where Loconomics itself cannot.**
2. Ownership Committee. The Board of Directors shall appoint an Ownership Committee consisting of at least two Directors, and that Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that Loconomics creates and communicates clear procedures for becoming an Owner and terminating an Ownership. The Ownership Committee shall create a system for reviewing Ownership applications submitted by Independent Contractors, Worker Cooperatives, and Nonprofits. The Ownership Committee shall also create a system for reviewing requests by Owners or former Owners to have their User Accounts or Ownership Interests restored after involuntarily termination.

3. Who May Be An Owner of Loconomics. Loconomics may admit an unlimited number of Owners. The following qualify to be Owners of Loconomics, and each category of Owner has a somewhat different set of rights than the others:

   1. A Service Professional.A Loconomics Service Professional, defined as an individual who offers services through the Loconomics Marketplace.
   2. An Employee. A Loconomics Employee, defined as an individual who is legally employed by Loconomics.
   3. An Independent Contractor. A Loconomics Independent Contractor, defined as an individual who regularly provides services to Loconomics.
   4. A Worker Cooperative.A Worker Cooperative, defined here as a business entity with all of the following characteristics:
      1. At least 80% of control is held by people who work in the business;
      2. At least 80% of its workers are voting member-owners;
      3. Control is shared among owners on a one-member-one-vote basis; and
      4. Earnings are primarily distributed based on the value or quantity of work done by each member-owner.
   5. A Nonprofit. A nonprofit corporation exempt from taxation under 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) which offers services to low-income communities on a pro bono basis or in exchange for an optional donation.
   6. A Licensing Partner.A Licensing Partner, defined here as an organization or business entity that uses part or all of Loconomics’ technology, brand, or other assets under a licensing agreement executed by Loconomics and the Licensing Partner. Any entity to which Loconomics licenses assets must meet high standards of democratic governance and social responsibility, as determined by Staff Trustees and the Board.

4. Policy against Discrimination. In accepting Owners, Loconomics shall not discriminate based on ancestry, age (for individuals 18 and above), color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

5. Steps to Becoming an Owner.
   1. Service Professional Owners. To become an Owner of Loconomics and be eligible for patronage dividends, a Service Professional must do each of the following:
      1. Create a profile.Create an online profile on the Loconomics Marketplace describing the Owner and the services that the Owner provides.
      2. Complete two bookings with positive reviews. Complete services for at least two service bookings through the Loconomics Marketplace or online scheduler with a Client review of 3 stars or higher. Service Professionals regulated by HIPAA are exempt from the positive reviews requirement. The Board has the authority to amend this requirement by majority vote.
      3. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Owner has had an opportunity to view and agrees to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
      4. Provide Owner Information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with an email address, a second email address (if available) for back-up purposes, a phone number, and mailing address.
      5. Pay User Fee. Pay any User Fee associated with use of the Platform, if applicable, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
   2. Employee Owners. To become an Owner of Loconomics, a Loconomics Employee must do each of the following:
      1. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Owner has had an opportunity to view and agrees to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
      2. Provide Owner information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with an email address, a second email address (if available) for back-up purposes, a phone number, and mailing address.
   3. Independent Contractor Owners. Independent Contractors may become Owners of Loconomics if approved by the Ownership Committee, based on criteria to be developed by the Ownership Committee. Criteria may include anticipated length of service, nature of contract work, and the Independent Contractor’s expressed interest in the mission of Loconomics. This category of Ownership is designed primarily for individuals who provide services to Loconomics on an ongoing basis, such as software developers, marketing consultants, bookkeepers, or accountants. To become an Owner of Loconomics, a Loconomics Independent Contractor must do each of the following:
      1. Be approved. Ask to or be invited to become an Owner and receive approval from the Ownership Committee.
      2. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Owner has had an opportunity to view and agrees to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
      3. Provide Owner information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with an email address, a second email address (if available) for back-up purposes, a phone number, and mailing address.
   4. Worker Cooperative Owners. Worker Cooperatives may become Owners of Loconomics if approved by the Ownership Committee, based on criteria to be developed by the Ownership Committee. To become an Owner of Loconomics, a Worker Cooperative must do each of the following:
      1. Be approved. Ask to become an Owner and receive approval from the Ownership Committee.
      2. Sign Cooperation Agreement. Sign a mutually negotiated Cooperation Agreement between Loconomics and the Worker Cooperative that outlines the responsibilities of each party.
      3. Complete Agreement Checklist.The Cooperation Agreement outlines the necessary steps to be taken for the Worker Cooperative to become an Owner. This may include creating an online profile for both the Worker Cooperative and its worker-owners on the Loconomics Marketplace describing the Worker Cooperative and the services that the Worker Cooperative provides.
      4. Provide Owner Information and Designated Representative Information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with the name, email, phone number, and mailing address of a Designated Representative at the Worker Cooperative, along with an email address, phone number, and mailing address for the Worker Cooperative entity.
      5. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Designated Representative is an individual who has been empowered by the Worker Cooperative to act on its behalf with regard to Loconomics, and that the Designated Representative has had an opportunity to view and agrees, on behalf of the Worker Cooperative, to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
   5. Nonprofit Owners. Nonprofit organizations may become Owners of Loconomics if approved by the Ownership Committee, based on criteria to be developed by the Ownership Committee. Ownership criteria may include, but is not limited to, the types of services provided, the extent to which the services fill an important need in the community, and the extent to which such a Nonprofit Owner may compete unfairly with existing Service Professional Owners providing similar services at low cost in that region or neighborhood. To become an Owner of Loconomics, a nonprofit must do each of the following:
      1. Be approved. Ask to become an Owner and receive approval from the Ownership Committee.
      2. Sign Cooperation Agreement. Sign a mutually negotiated Cooperation Agreement between Loconomics and the Nonprofit that outlines the responsibilities of each party.
      3. Complete Agreement Checklist.The Cooperation Agreement outlines the necessary steps to be taken for the Nonprofit to become an Owner. This may include creating an online profile for both the organization and its employees on the Loconomics Marketplace describing the Nonprofit and the services that the Nonprofit provides.
      4. Provide Owner Information and Designated Representative Information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with the name, email, phone number, and mailing address of a Designated Representative individual at the Nonprofit, along with an email address, phone number, and mailing address for the Nonprofit entity.
      5. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Designated Representative is an individual who has been empowered by the Nonprofit to act on its behalf with regard to Loconomics, and that the Designated Representative has had an opportunity to view and agrees, on behalf of the Nonprofit, to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
   6. Licensing Partner Owners. Licensing Partners may become Owners of Loconomics if approved by the Ownership Committee, based on criteria to be developed by the Ownership Committee. To become an Owner of Loconomics, a Licensing Partner must do each of the following:
      1. Be approved. Ask to become an Owner and receive approval from the Ownership Committee.
      2. Sign Cooperation Agreement. Sign a mutually negotiated Cooperation Agreement between Loconomics and the Licensing Partner that outlines the responsibilities of each party.
      3. Complete Agreement Checklist.The Cooperation Agreement outlines the necessary steps to be taken for the Licensing Partner to become an Owner. This may include a review of the bylaws, ownership structure, and business plan of the Licensing Partner to ensure it meets the mission set forth by Loconomics.
      4. Provide Owner Information and Designated Representative Information.Complete an informational form to provide Loconomics with the name, email, phone number, and mailing address of a Designated Representative at the Licensing Partner, along with an email address, phone number, and mailing address for the Licensing Partner entity.
      5. Complete Owner Acknowledgment.Complete an Owner Acknowledgment in order to acknowledge, among other things, that the Designated Representative is an individual who has been empowered by the Licensing Partner to act on its behalf with regard to Loconomics, and that the Designated Representative has had an opportunity to view and agrees, on behalf of the Licensing Partner, to these Bylaws, the Loconomics Terms of Service, and any other policies or resolutions adopted by Loconomics.
6. Owners May Not Transfer Their Ownership Interests. An Ownership Interest is personal to an Owner. No Owner may transfer their Ownership Interest, and except as otherwise provided, no Owner may transfer any right arising from Ownership Interest. Except as otherwise provided, any attempted assignment or transfer of an Ownership Interest shall be void, and will not confer rights on the intended assignee or transferee.
7. Voluntary Resignation of Ownership. The following processes shall be used by an Owner wishing to voluntarily resign and relinquish their Ownership Interest:
   1. Service Professional Owners. A Service Professional Owner may voluntarily resign as an Owner of Loconomics by doing any of the following:
      1. Cancellation Form:An Owner may provide notice of resignation to Loconomics by completing a “Cancel Cooperative Ownership” form provided on the Loconomics website. The resignation shall become effective at the time the Owner completes and submits the form.
      2. Email Notice: An Owner may provide notice of resignation by emailing notice to support@@loconomics.com. The resignation shall become effective at the time the Owner emails the notice of resignation.
      3. Deletion, Cancellation, or Expiration of User Account: An Owner may resign by canceling or deleting their User Account, and/or by allowing the User Account to expire as a result of not paying any required User Fees. Termination of Ownership shall not, however, be effective immediately upon the deletion, cancellation, or expiration of the User Account. In the event that the Owner deletes their User Account, the Ownership Committee shall immediately notify the Owner that the Ownership will terminate 30 days after the deletion, cancellation, or expiration of the User Account. This notice and 30 day period is designed to ensure that the Owner actually intended to terminate their Ownership. If the Owner does not intend to terminate their Ownership, the Owner may ensure continuation of Ownership by undeleting the User Account, creating a new User Account, and paying any required User Fees.
   2. Worker Cooperative Owners, Nonprofit Owners, and Licensing Partner Owners. A Worker Cooperative Owner, Nonprofit Owner or Licensing Partner Owner may voluntarily resign as an Owner of Loconomics in accordance with the terms of their respective Cooperation Agreements.
   3. Employee Owners and Independent Contractor Owners. An Employee Owner or Independent Contractor Owner may resign as an Owner of Loconomics by doing either of the following:
      1. Ending services: The Owner voluntarily and clearly demonstrates through words or actions that they resign as an employee or have ended or completed services to Loconomics.
      2. Emailing Notice: Even if the Employee Owner or Independent Contractor Owner has not ended or doesn’t intend to end their services to Loconomics, they may nevertheless decide not to be an Owner of Loconomics, and may provide notice of resignation of Ownership by emailing notice to support@@loconomics.com. The resignation shall become effective at the time the Owner emails the notice of resignation.
8. Involuntary Termination of an Ownership Interest.
   1. Service Professional Owners. An Ownership Interest held by a Service Professional Owner may be terminated by Loconomics according to the following procedures:
      1. When Loconomics staff or Directors observe that an Owner has been disrespectful, disruptive, or has violated the Terms of Service, these Bylaws, or other Loconomics policies, the staff member or Director may block or suspend the Owner’s access to their User Account.
      2. When Loconomics blocks or suspends an Owner’s access to their User Account, Loconomics shall deliver notice of the User Account suspension or blockage to the Owner, explaining why the account was blocked, and the Owner shall be given 15 days in which the Owner shall have an opportunity to write a request to have User Account access restored, along with any explanation for why the account should be restored.
      3. If the Owner does not make a request to have the User Account restored, the Owner’s Ownership shall be terminated.
      4. The Ownership Committee shall review all requests for the restoration of a User Account within 15 days of receiving a request.
      5. If the Loconomics Ownership Committee reviews the Owners’ request and determines that restoration of the User Account would create a substantial risk that the Owner could cause harm to the Company, its integrity, quality of service, users, or reputation, then the Owner’s Ownership Interest shall be terminated.
      6. The Ownership Committee shall weigh factors that include the feasibility of monitoring the Owner’s use of and compliance with rules in the Marketplace, the risk that restoration of the account would offend other Users, and the need to apply standards of review and rules consistently for all Owners.
      7. Notwithstanding the above, an Ownership Interest shall be automatically terminated upon the death or dissolution of the Owner.
   2. Worker Cooperative Owners, Nonprofit Owners, and Licensing Partner Owners. An Ownership Interest held by a Worker Cooperative Owner, Nonprofit Owner or Licensing Partner Owner may be terminated by Loconomics in accordance with the terms of their respective Cooperation Agreements.
   3. Employee Owners. By becoming an Employee Owner of Loconomics, the Owner thereby acknowledges that Ownership is solely contingent on being an employee of the Company. Loconomics may terminate an Employee Owner’s Ownership Interest if Loconomics first terminates employment of the Owner, with or without cause. An Employee who has been terminated from employment may exercise any rights of redress available to the employee under the law and/or under any Loconomics human relations policies, employment policies, or employment contracts. However, there otherwise shall be no process whereby an Employee Owner who has been terminated from employment may dispute the termination of their Ownership Interest if they no longer work for Loconomics.
   4. Independent Contractor Owners. By becoming an Independent Contractor Owner of Loconomics, the Owner thereby acknowledges that Ownership is solely contingent on providing services to the Company on an ongoing basis. Loconomics may terminate an Independent Contractor Owner’s Ownership Interest if Loconomics first notifies the Independent Contractor that Loconomics will no longer need the services of the Independent Contractor. An Independent Contractor who receives such notification from Loconomics may exercise any rights of redress available to the Independent Contractor under the law and/or under any contract with Loconomics. However, there otherwise shall be no process whereby an Independent Contractor Owner may dispute the termination of their Ownership Interest if they no longer work with Loconomics.