Salaries & Record Profits

I know, it's amazing isn't it? And I swear, all the companies fire right before raise time comes around as if to say " hey, just be lucky."

I am sick of it. I am sick of companies expecting more but being unwilling to share the profits with the actual workers.

And you are actually right, you can't just go look elsewhere. At first you will get a bump in salary, but then you will be right back where you were: working for people who will do everything in their power to keep you underpaid for profits. This is the story with ever company, even privately held companies.

And yes, we are getting use to being exploited.

Isn't this an example of corporate greed?
Is this an example of what the OWS Movement is about?
Are we all just getting used to being exploited?

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Of course it is. But you know that, my friend. It sounds like your husband's company, and many others out there, are taking advantage of a situation (the recession) that has not truly affected them (since they are making gangbuster profits) so that they can MAKE MORE MONEY. Corporate greed at its finest.

LiveBold, I'm a little offended by your comments, as well. You seem to say that your husband is living by God's plan (ergo the numerous bonuses) and Denise's husband must not be since his corporation is not giving him a bonus. This is greed, plain and simple. How lucky your husband is to work for a company that seems to understand the value of its workforce -- especially during difficult times.

Yes, he can find another job, but odds are, the benefits and everything will likely be the same. My husband hasn't had any sort of raise in years, our benefits goes down every year even though our rates increase. He is paid near the poverty level, and works for the govt in a specialized field, my husband also has years experience and a degree, so it's not some entry level job. The problem is everywhere, not just in the greedy corporate world.

***Live Bold... we are very active in our faith and God helps us all the time, but that doesn't always mean He will make our lives smooth sailing and financial burdens easy. People of all faiths or non-faiths both prosper and fail. It isn't a reward system based on who loves God best.

Wait a tick. Are you married to my husband? This just happend to him. Guess what? He has a job and we are thrilled. He works in the evil banking industry and hasn't gotten a raise in three years.

Your husband is being compensated for his work. He is getting a pay check every pay day. That is the contribution. The company doesn't owe you anything because they pay that debt every pay day. They can choose to share the spoils or not. They choose not. That is their choice. You dont' like it, you have the choice or your husband has to choice to leave. My husband has worked for the same company 27 years and the crazy guy like your crazy guy loves his job. Go figure! :)

Sounds like your husband is content in his job. That's rare these days. You need to let it go. Be thankful he has a job he loves. My husband lost two jobs in the past few years. First due to downsizing, second due to corporation going bankrupt. Now he's got a job that pays a good salary, but he travels and is unhappy about the time he's away from home.

As far as increases in health care contributions going up...have you followed how the cost of premiums have been increasing? There has been double digit inflation in those over the past decade or so. Though your costs have gone up, I suspect the company's share of the costs have increased even more.

The company owes your husband nothing more than the salary he has agreed to accept from them.

I think the problem with OWS is that too many in the younger generation expect too much to be handed to them. An easy life is never promised to anyone. Make the best of what you have instead of agonizing over what isn't and you will be a happier person.

Yes, this is exactly what the OWS Movement is about! Corporations can get away with this because there is a line of people ready to take your husband's job gladly if he would leave. The corporations have all the power to set wages and reduce benefits. The actions of a public company are all about stock prices and short term stock projections. No O. is safe from layoff, no matter how many years of service or what their performance has been. Corporations have ALL the power.

O. of the best things about America is that, We the People, have free choice...it's a beautiful thing to have the choice to stay or leave. When a person works for a company they have to play by their rules.

Seems that your husband has reaped many benefits, like having a home paid for free and clear :) ........be thankful

Hi,
My husband and I each worked for large corporations at some point in our careers. I'm not sure if it's corporate greed exactly. I believe it's a matter of the guys at the top losing sight of who it is who really makes a business, "work." It's the "little guys" at the bottom who make or sell a product, or provide a service; who reach out and touch the customer/consumer.

I work for a small, family-owned company right now, and I promised my husband I would quit before they ever go public.
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Yup. And on that note, I'm going down to join the protests.

Edit to add: Denise IF YOU ARE SHAREHOLDERS you vote on this - so you have allowed it...you might have been outvoted - but you voted. As a SHAREHOLDER you have a SAY in what happens. You are profiting from this as a share holder as well.

I "get it" Denise. You aren't getting it. You are a shareholder. You have a say. Your husband and other worker bees can leave the company and they can realize that they can't make the company work without them...it's called CHOICE. You have O. as well as a voice.

If this were me - you'd be telling me to get off my pity pot and do something about it instead of complaining.

original post:

Is it public knowledge that these officers of the company are getting raises and bonuses? Or is this something you are assuming?

It's great that he cares about the work he does. But if he's not being given raises - he needs to look elsewhere.

Is this corporate greed? In many people's view it is - so what is he going to do about it? Make a stand or what? Does it really matter? If he is only going to complain about it or have his wife complain about it - it's not changing anything - it's just complaining - pity poor me - I didn't get a raise but the boss did. So either S**t of get off the pot.

Is this an example of what Occupy is about? It's an example of how a corporation runs. Just like a bee hive - the worker bee (your husband) gets rave reviews - but it's not about him - it's about the Queen. If the worker bees leave the queen is screwed. the work doesn't get done.

Are we getting exploited? no. is he being taken advantage of? are unethical things happening? depends on whose eyes you see it through...he is getting compensated for his work - it may not be what YOU think he's worth, but he is getting paid.

Yes this is an example of corporate greed. If the company is publicly traded, do you own stock? That would be O. way to get your piece of the profit pie.

Well if you don't buy into what the scriptures clearly offers us, and obviously, don't study it, don't worry, you won't get it :)

The bible tells us that when we follow God's plan, he will bring favor into our lives from others. My husband is just like your husband, the go to guy. Only he has gotten huge bonuses this year, last year, and the year before the O. before that. I want to suggest that you and your husband study God's word about how to prosper in this world and find out if there's anything you could be missing, or him. It sounds like God has a lot of easy ways to prosper you two. His employers don't have to be believers. :)

Since you're asking for opinions, I'll offer mine...

Isn't this an example of corporate greed?
Not really, this is an example of the board of directors choosing to put more dollars into salaries at the higher levels of the organization, paying out dividends, or reinvesting in the company. All of these choices are what helps the company to have a "record year" and a reasonable stock price (I'm assuming, since you don't mention that it tanked). The nay-sayers argue that the executives can vote themselves higher salaries or bonuses by cheating their employees, but these rarely have a direct correlation.

Are we all just getting used to being exploited?
After working in HR at a huge multi-national corporation for years, I have seen all levels of the organization. I can safely say that people at every level feel like they're exploited. Hourly thinks management is screwing them. Entry level think that they're not moving up fast enough. Mid level feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Higher levels have ridiculous hours, crazy stress and no job security or stability.

I left corporate America because it didn't agree with my values, it wasn't family friendly, but mostly because I was tired of all the griping by my fellow workers (at every level). I truly believe that we make our own wealth (and I do mean a greater definition of wealth than financial) and I don't get caught up in the "how come he or she makes more than me" because I've seen both sides of that fence too many times and the other side is often pretty ugly.

As for healthcare, don't even get me started on that O. - I don't believe any company is responsible for keeping my family healthy. I thank God that we have health insurance (yes, insurance from major loss, not coverage for every doctor's visit) and I don't complain when the premiums increase - do you have any idea what percentage of a company's income pays for salaries and sky-rocketing benefits?

I'm by no means trying to justify every action that companies make, but I just feel like too many Americans want to park themselves completely on the far end of every issue instead of seeing the shades of gray....

I think you are justified in your frustration. After25 years I wouldn't encourage him to get another job the economy stinks. Tim Dickinson just wrote an article in Rollingstone I think it's how the Rebulican party became the party of the rich; he was also interviewed on Fresh Air. No matter what your political views are; I think it's a must read. It really explains how we got here as a country and makes you think about what can be done.

Caring about his work, plain and simple, is not going to guarantee him a job. He is not high enough to get the bonuses and salaries the big wigs are getting, but he is doing more work than necessary just to secure his position.

If ths what OWS is about? Maybe if you ask O. person in the millions that are out there acting like fools. Ask each O. and they'll have a different reason why they're out there. Yet, I'm sure they don't want the large companies they are protesting to take away their clothing, shelter, food, heat sources, etc. It's a joke.

I would be looking for something else. Plain and simple.

If it's a publicly owned company, they need to be make all of their stakeholders happy. So the majority of the shareholders are happy. Or this wouldnt be going on.

I understand where you are coming from. It seems extremely greedy but what are you going to do. These companies should be leading by example and cut across the board but they don't. No matter the economic situation these days...you don't like it someone else is already available to replace your husband. Even if things were fairer there is always competition.

My husband has worked for his company for 22years. He's not paid the best, but all of our insurance is paid and they match his 401K contributions. The insurance increases alone are more than any raise he would get, so when the company says they can't do increases (or they can only do an across the board 2%), we don't think about it too much. Even though the owners and execs are driving brand new Lexuses (sp?) and rake in plenty of salary and bonuses.

He's thought of leaving a few times, even to do his own thing, but the headaches, the liabilities, the starting over, etc, wouldn't get him anywhere, or anywhere past where its taken him 22years to get. So, instead, we're thankful for what we have and look for other sources of extra income if needed.

I left corporate America in the mid-90's because all of the greed got to me, bigger companies stomping on little companies, people with degrees making more than people without (who did the same exact job and performed the same or better), etc. Then I found that working in smaller companies wasn't much different. After being a partner for 5 years, I also decided that being an owner myself wasn't something I wanted to do.

I'm glad our husbands like what they do and have some sort of job stability. Good luck!