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Inequality in society has been studied from almost every angle.
Among others, French economist Thomas Piketty has provided ample evidence of trends in inequality, their causes, and their consequences. We’re reminded constantly of the growing compensation gap between senior executives and those in the lower ranks. READ MORE
After the arrival of COVID-19, we started calling them "essential workers," as the pandemic gave long overdue recognition to those driving our buses, sweeping our floors, stocking our supermarket shelves. These are the people formerly known simply as "low-paid workers."
The bitter irony of the effect of the health crisis on the world of work, compounded by the overall disproportionate effect of the virus on poorer communities, has begun to fuel the simmering worldwide debate about minimum wage. READ MORE
In a continuing trend, employers are abandoning on-call scheduling as states and cities continue to pass predictive scheduling laws. READ MORE
If you want skills to pay the bills, don't pick up one of these degrees.
It’s true that many employers expect job seekers to have some sort of post-secondary education to prove they have a good head on their shoulders. But if you want a good job, one that will help you pay off all that student debt you just accumulated, you’ll need to choose carefully. READ MORE
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), which disallows the deduction by any publicly held corporation with respect to certain compensation paid to a covered employee over $1,000,000, was amended by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). One change made to Section 162(m) of the Code as part of the TCJA was that if an individual is a “covered employee” for a taxable year, the individual continues to be a covered employee for all future taxable years, including after termination of employment. READ MORE
A move by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to let private platform-based tech companies pay their gig workers partially in equity is unlikely to take effect before it is expected to be withdrawn by the Biden administration, marking a victory for employee advocates. READ MORE
Employers know that wages are generally subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”), and that both employers and employees are liable for a portion of FICA on those wages. In most circumstances, the employee and employer portion of FICA are paid when the compensation is paid to employees—but there is a “special timing rule” that applies when compensation is subject to a non-qualified deferred compensation (“NQDC”) arrangement. Not knowing this special timing rule can cause real headaches for both employers and employees. READ MORE
President-elect Joe Biden’s choices for his White House economic team include an array of advisers with crisis experience, policy chops and a deep focus on labor markets, including how to boost wages, maximize employment and combat discrimination. READ MORE
At Whole Foods, every employee knows what everybody else is making. It’s a practice called “wage transparency.” The average pay of professional titles of employees is published on the Whole Foods website.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey thinks of wage transparency as a source of motivation for employees. READ MORE
When it comes to landing a coveted job at a tech startup, there are plenty of misconceptions around stock options. While the experience of working in the tech space can be invaluable, understanding and effectively negotiating the best stock options can make a difference to your income and net worth. If your tech employer offers company stock options, you might be wondering what they mean and how they work. READ MORE
Hollywood’s “Time’s Up” organization, set up to fight sexual harassment — with Reese Witherspoon, Amy Schumer, Brie Larson and other luminaries on its board — spent the bulk of its donations on executive salaries and only a fraction on legal costs to help victims, public records show. READ MORE
Given how he’s one of the world’s richest people, you might expect Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to pull down a hefty annual salary—and you’d be wrong. However, Zuckerberg is also compensated in ways that outpace anyone else at Facebook. READ MORE
One of the great successes of the Republican Party in recent decades is the relentless propagation of a simple formula for economic growth: tax cuts.
The formula doesn’t work, but that has not affected its popularity. In part, that’s because people like tax cuts. But it’s also because people like economic growth, and while the cult of tax cuts has attracted many critics, it lacks for obvious rivals. READ MORE
Shareholders of Silicon Valley’s 150 largest public technology and life sciences companies were less likely than investors in large companies nationwide to object to executives’ compensation packages this year — one sign that Silicon Valley has fared well during the pandemic. READ MORE
More than two thirds of investors want executive pay tied to ESG initiatives, a move that would pressure boards to achieve social and other key targets, according to the global Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Institutional Investors. Sixty-nine percent of stakeholders say they want to see a link between remuneration and ESG, a 17-point jump over 2019. READ MORE
Amazon is recognizing the continued hard work of its employees during the coronavirus pandemic with a special bonus ahead of the holiday season. READ MORE
After years of denying allegations of lax financial oversight, the National Rifle Association has made a stunning declaration in a new tax filing: Current and former executives used the nonprofit group’s money for personal benefit and enrichment. READ MORE
E*TRADE interviewed 53,512 stock plan participants from September 8–18, 2020, seeking their views on how they engage with, and feel about, their equity compensation. Results show that in this volatile and uncertain year participants across all ages and categories placed higher importance on—and satisfaction with—their stock plan benefits: READ MORE
Glass Lewis (“GL”) recently issued its 2020 Proxy Season Review (U.S.) (the “Report”) covering the U.S. 2020 Proxy Season (i.e., January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020). GL reported on certain 2020 shareholder voting trends and results, as well as certain of GL’s voting recommendations. READ MORE
Workers at Walmart, Amazon, Kroger and other major retailers are calling on their employers to reinstate hazard pay and strengthen safety protocols ahead of the busy holiday shopping season as coronavirus infection rates skyrocket. READ MORE