Provides more news on the DOL's opinion letter treating stock option "spreads" as wages subject to overtime pay; the date FASB will release its final guidance on stock option accounting; and an explanation of how employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) can work even in very small companies. Excerpt: "A common misperception about employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) is that they only work for larger employers. Rules of thumb vary; some practitioners say $1 million in revenues; some say 20 or 30 employees are needed before an ESOP makes sense. Some smaller employers have set up ESOPs quite successfully, however. For instance, Lightworks Optical in Irvine, CA has just 14 employees. It paid between $30,000 and $40,000 to establish its ESOP in legal, valuation, administrative, and accounting costs. The plan, designed primarily as an incentive and reward, provides that the company will contribute new shares of stock to employees. Other plans in small companies have bought out owners."  MORE >>