Salaries of $500,000 and up are 'a dime a dozen' in this California region, report says

More than 1 million people across the country earn paychecks of $500,000 or higher, according to a report that analyzed payroll records on millions of salaries paid over the course of a year.

The study titled "High-paying jobs? They’re a dime a dozen," which was done by ADP, a leading management company that provides payroll and other services, concluded that “a substantial number of professionals found in every major metro” earn more than half a million dollars annually. Government data, including the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, typically obscure the prevalence of hefty paychecks by capping the level of wages reported. READ MORE

Taylor Swift Hit With Backlash After Giving Crew $200 Million In Bonuses

Welcome to 2024, where some people are somehow angry at Taylor Swift for "only" giving nearly $200 MILLION in bonuses to her touring staff and crew this past week.

As I reported earlier this week, Swift graciously gave massive bonuses to each and every single one of her crew members both last year and this year as a thank-you. We're not talking about just those that are on stage with her, but those that literally are the ones that made the Eras Tour happen and be such the massive success that it was - even the truck drivers received a surprise $100,000 check from Swift! READ MORE

It’s time to prepare for FASB’s new compensation reporting rules

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has moved forward with a significant change that will require public companies to disclose more granular details about their employee compensation packages, including incentive compensation, in financial reports.

The new accounting standard will fundamentally change how businesses track and report compensation, especially in areas like bonuses, commissions, and other variable pay structures. While this change aims to bring more transparency, it highlights a glaring issue: many companies don’t fully understand the true cost or return on investment of incentive compensation, and have no way to properly measure or report on their programs’ business impact. READ MORE

More work, same salary. How employees should respond to a 'dry promotion'

Soon after Kay took on a new role at an e-commerce company in the fall of 2023, the responsibilities began to pile up. 

Kay – who asked USA TODAY to not use her full name for fear of losing her job – was originally told she would oversee customer service agents as a team lead. But with the rapid advancements in AI chatbots like ChatGPT, her job shifted to a high-stakes position focused on automating customer support.  READ MORE

Salary Threshold Increase for Exempt Employees Blocked

A federal district court in Texas has blocked a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) final rule that would have increased the salary thresholds for certain exempt employees on January 1, 2025. As a result, the rule —and its accompanying threshold increases — will no longer go into effect, and the salary threshold increase that took effect on July 1, 2024, has been undone. For employers already dealing with a host of new laws taking effect in 2025, the decision may bring some relief, along with uncertainty of what to do with the changes they may have already made. READ MORE

Elon’s Shocking $56 Billion Yearly Pay: Is It Too Much?

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has recently faced another legal setback regarding his massive compensation plan. Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery upheld her previous decision from January to cancel the $56 billion package awarded in 2018. Despite a second shareholder vote in June to reinstate it, the judge ruled that the initial process was “deeply flawed” and that the subsequent vote did not rectify these issues. READ MORE

DEI-Tied Executive Pay Loses Ground at Companies Amid Backlash

More companies are ditching diversity, equity, and inclusion metrics to help determine their executives’ compensation amid a conservative backlash against corporate DEI programs.

The pullback, however, doesn’t mean the popular tie-in has been abandoned. In fact, a majority of S&P 500 companies and more than 40% of Russell 3000 firms that use environmental, social, and governance metrics in executive pay still link compensation to achieving DEI goals, according to a report the Conference Board, ESGAUGE, and FW Cook released Thursday. READ MORE

Research finds CEOs innovate — or don’t — based on compensation packages and input from analysts


West Virginia University research shows the stock market shapes chief executive officers’ commitments to innovation through mechanisms that range from CEO pay packages to feedback from financial analysts.

“The investment industry usually views financial analysts’ feedback, such as earnings forecasts, as impeding innovation because of the pressure the feedback puts on CEOs,” said Xinchun Wang, associate professor of marketing at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics. “But not all feedback provided by analysts generates that kind of pressure. Stock recommendations actually foster explorative activities like research and development — investments that, although risky, can positively affect long-term returns.” READ MORE

Trump said he'd consider raising the minimum wage. His own party may get in the way.

Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump said he'd consider raising the federal minimum wage, saying that the current rate of $7.25 per hour is a "very low number."

"There is a level at which you could do it, absolutely," Trump said in an interview with NBC on Sunday, declining to commit to a particular dollar amount. "I would consider it. I'd want to speak to the governors." READ MORE

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos kept his base salary modest during his 20 years as CEO. It likely saved him millions in taxes

Currently worth $246 billion, Jeff Bezos is one of the richest men in the world. So it may come as a surprise to learn he kept his Amazon salary at just over $80,000 for decades.

“My view was I was a founder, “ the former CEO and founder of Amazon told The New York Times. “I already owned a significant amount of the company and I just didn’t feel good about taking more.” READ MORE

Total Rewards Takeaways from the Recent U.S. Election

Each Presidential election in the United States brings with it the chance of large-scale change by a new administration. In President-elect Donald Trump’s case, the administration isn’t technically new, but it is only the second time in American history that a former President has won back the White House after a one-term absence — so that adds a somewhat different twist to the process. The bottom line as we head into 2025: Prepare for a shakeup. READ MORE

Minimum wage set to rise in 23 states next year as $15 an hour, and beyond, picks up steam

Minimum wage hikes traditionally have been aimed at helping low-paid workers afford the basics, such as food, medicine and housing.

But a growing number of states and localities are raising their pay floors to $15 an hour or above, providing workers a somewhat larger financial cushion so they can not only pay for essentials with less of a struggle but also make some discretionary purchases.  READ MORE

3 Remote Jobs That Pay Up To $150,000+ In 2025

In recent years, the job market has been rocked by major global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread adoption of AI (artificial intelligence), and mass layoffs as a direct result of these two influences and their impact on the economy and business operations, which have made many Americans question their standing in the job market and the reliability of specific roles. Remote jobs (and their decline with RTO mandates and evolution into hybrid roles) have been another cause of concern for workers. Naturally, many professionals desire jobs that will give them career stability and are anxious to set up their careers for long-term success, especially when faced with the threat of a recession due to the economy and inflation. READ MORE

Comp for M&A teams: Are you doing enough to keep these busy employees?

As 2025 quickly approaches, many organizations are gearing up for growth. According to recent Gartner research, more than 60% of C-suite execs surveyed say business growth is their top priority, a marked increase from last year—and the highest percentage invested in growth in a decade. For some of these organizations, growth will be found through mergers and acquisitions, which are predicted to rise around the globe. READ MORE

Maximizing Business Growth Through Strategic Sales Compensation

Many companies struggle with ineffective sales compensation plans, with only 21% demonstrating plan effectiveness and expressing satisfaction with their approach, according to Alexander Group’s recent Sales Compensation Hot Topics ResearchOpen in a new tab. So, what sets these successful companies apart?

Sales compensation is more than just a reward system; it is a strategic tool that can address business challenges, highlight priorities and drive growth. This article explores how you may leverage sales compensation to overcome obstacles and foster business expansion. READ MORE

Companies express ‘cautious optimism’ about executive compensation for 2025

Looking ahead to 2025, company leaders voiced “cautious optimism” about corporate performance and executive pay, indicating a steadier approach than in recent years, according to a Nov. 19 report from Pearl Meyer, an executive compensation and leadership consultancy.

About half said they expect moderate (36%) or significant (10.5%) improvements in their overall financial results, while 17% anticipate a modest decline. READ MORE

Ohio State reverses hundreds of workers’ raises after DOL’s overtime rule overturned

Attorneys have previously told HR Dive employers should proceed with caution when considering making changes to worker salaries after the overtime rule was vacated. 

While DOL has appealed the ruling, the 2024 overtime rule is likely dead, the attorneys said. But still, employers that made classification or wage changes to comply with the July threshold adjustment should think twice before reversing wages or reclassifications, Chuck McDonald, co-chair of wage and hour practice at Ogletree Deakins, and Brett Coburn, partner at Alston & Bird, told HR Dive. READ MORE

Pay Bump for Disabled Workers Has Chance of Survival Under Trump

The Biden administration’s latest move to cement long-sought raises for workers with disabilities won’t necessarily be tossed aside once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Earlier this week, the US Labor Department announced a new rulemaking effort to phase out the Fair Labor Standards Act’s Section 14(c) program, which allows employers to apply for certificates to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. READ MORE

What’s Happening With Taxes on Overtime Pay?

Tax cuts are in the news again. Former president Donald Trump grabbed headlines when he floated the idea of making all overtime hours tax-free for workers who exceed 40 hours per week. During a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona, the announcement became another hot tax topic, like no tax on tips, during the 2024 presidential race.

"We will end all taxes on overtime,” Trump told supporters during the election campaign. READ MORE