What do you think of the amount of compensation in the form of salary, bonuses and stock options paid to top execs of multinational corporations?

Thursday 09th October, 03:15 AM JST

Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

outofmydepth at 06:56 AM JST - 9th October

i think it is obscene, especially if their company is in trouble they should be beyond embarrassed.
butterfly1 at 08:30 AM JST - 9th October

I agree to some of the posts above but to be honest... I'm envious!
ProfessorJ at 09:01 AM JST - 9th October

What do you think of the amount of compensation in the form of salary, bonuses and stock options paid to top execs of multinational corporations?

Please.
neverknow2 at 10:09 AM JST - 9th October

Obviously its too much. If it was reasonable, they question wouldnt be up here.
Razor at 10:23 AM JST - 9th October

That's the capitalist system, like it or not. If I were offered a top salary with perks, I'd take it. I think most of us would. When a company is going well, nobody complains. The shareholders are getting their dividends, so they are happy. But when a company goes under, then everyone complains. The Lehman Brothers CEO was squirming as suddenly we were hearing about his getaway home and art collection, but all of us have assets, possessions or hobbies which would look extravagant to those who were not making the amount of money we are.
borscht at 10:32 AM JST - 9th October

When a company does well because the CEO is an inspiring leader, they are compensated for it with what the market (for inspiring leaders) will bear. That's capitalism. What I don't agree with is the golden parachutes for lame CEOs that run the company into the ground and end up with multi-million dollar buyouts. If the company goes belly up on their watch, they should be cut loose with no compensation. Or give it to me.
sdmsec at 11:18 AM JST - 9th October

What's really obscene is that actors/actresses, musicians, athletes, and others get similar compensation for entertainment.

Don't get me wrong. Entertainment is big business, and I believe in free markets. What I think is obscene is that we are willing to pay such outrageous prices for tickets. All for entertainment.
dammit at 05:28 PM JST - 9th October

I hate it - and most of the time they don't increase profits that much either, and now most of them are responsible for running their companies into the ground and still they get huge wads of cash! Despicable!
Nippon5 at 10:20 PM JST - 9th October

Seems we allow it, I dont like the fact the some people earn that kind of money when they dont produce the results needed to make the company truely profittable. Maybe someday companies will understand that companies run well because the guy on the lowest end is happy and well paid, not the guy who is overpaid at the top...
slappayuki at 10:27 PM JST - 9th October

Frankly, I think we deserve the money and I don't think anyone is really in a position to criticize it unless you're in with the big boys.
KitsuneYoukai at 10:45 PM JST - 9th October

Since it is their guidance and business savy decisions that make or break a company I think it is okay. However, I think the compensations are what is outrageous. I don't think it is right that they get the excesses when there are ways that money can be managed to create more jobs (because many are short staffed) to illeviate the stress on their employees, for bonuses, and programs for employees. If a company fails and they get replaced, they in no way should receive anything at all. Just like when an employee is let go for failure and doesn't get a dime.
Triple888 at 01:06 AM JST - 10th October

I never understood why they get "bonuses" in the first place. Okay, fair enough, if the executive did something brilliant the reward is justified. Simply executives get paid whatever happens. It's normal for them to get paid to step-down from their positions and even when the firm goes bust they also get paid - in six figure sums.
Notginger at 03:56 PM JST - 10th October

They might be rich, but are they happy? They have to work so hard that their kids are attention-starved brats with serious hang-ups, who are often ill-prepared for a world of work, so that when they get put in charge they mess things up so badly, lose it all and then make way for the next generation of hungry executives who work their way to the top, in an endless cycle of sociopathic greed. What do I think? So long as they don't mess it up for the rest of us, let them get on with it. Unfortunately, they do and have messed it up for the rest of us. Forget the credit crunch, the blame for global warming and environmental destruction lies almost entirely with the corporate world.
usaexpat at 11:40 PM JST - 10th October

I think the shareholders and directors should be outraged, especially if C level executives are drawing those kind of salaries when the company is faultering. I have no problem with pay for performance but agree that the actual cash pay should be no more than 25 times the average middle management salary. Bonuses should be paid in stock beyond that so that CEOs have a bigger stake in the health and survival of the company long term.
Helly at 02:19 AM JST - 11th October

I think that if their company goes bankrupt that the CEO should be help accountable and lose any compensation. They should be investigated by the police and put in jail if there is evidence of wrong doing. They should not walk away with millions while the people that relied on their leadership get evicted and starve.