CEO Compensation Today: Is It Broken?

We sat down on 20VC + SaaStr podcast with HubSpot co-founder and former CEO Brian Halligan for an unfiltered discussion about CEO compensation. What emerged was a masterclass in why our current approach is fundamentally broken — and what forward-thinking companies are doing differently.

The conversation revealed insights that most compensation committees would rather not discuss publicly. But for companies serious about aligning leadership incentives with exponential growth, these uncomfortable truths are essential. READ MORE

The X-Factor In Sales: How World-Class Compensation Programs Drive Results

Effective leaders are always on the hunt for strategic advantages that can help hone their organization’s competitive edge. This “X-factor” may take a variety of shapes (e.g., a unique product or service, a novel execution of a familiar concept, etc.), but what’s most likely to be uniquely advantageous for each organization is its people.

This may be surprising, given the proliferation and power of advanced technology like AI. But AI investments have yet to yield significant returns across the board. People remain the most valuable asset for achieving differentiated results. Unleashing the power of teams’ unique minds and voices requires thoughtful leadership, a sound strategy and effective motivation—and when it comes to people management, perhaps no greater motivation exists than compensation. READ MORE

Eric Adams, Embracing Veto Power, Says No to Raises for Instacart Workers

In his nearly four years as mayor of New York City, Eric Adams has rarely vetoed bills passed by the City Council. But as he ramps up his re-election campaign, he has vetoed four bills in quick succession, arguing that the measures would hurt the economy and public safety.

Mr. Adams, a Democrat who is running as an independent and is trailing in polls, has received a wave of criticism from members of his party over the vetoes, especially for his opposition to bills that would help grocery delivery workers and unlicensed street vendors. READ MORE

Here’s how the proposed new wage-based selection process may work

The H-1B visa rules for hiring foreign workers in US firms are expected to undergo significant changes in the near future. The US is expected to introduce a new wage-based system to reform the H-1B selection process.

The plan of the New Wage-Based System is to establish a wage-based allocation process and choose H-1B candidates based on their earnings; the higher the compensation paid by the US firm, the better the chances of obtaining an H-1B visa. READ MORE

A Delaware Court Wrongly Stripped Billions from Elon Musk

In 2018, when the company’s market capitalization was about $45 billion, Tesla shareholders approved a new compensation package for Elon Musk. By any measure, the package was extraordinary. It came in 12 tranches, each equal to 1 percent of the company’s outstanding common stock. To receive his payments, Musk had to boost Tesla’s market cap by $50 billion for each installment—more than the market capitalization of General Motors at the time. Thus, to earn all 12 tranches, Musk, who already owned about 22 percent of the company’s shares, needed to grow Tesla’s value from $45 billion to $645 billion. If he did that, he would receive stock in the company worth about $56 billion—the largest potential compensation package in American history, but less than 10 percent of the potential $600 billion gain to shareholders. READ MORE

How Stablecoin Salaries Can Change Employee Compensation

In a time where inflation eats away at our wallets, stablecoin salaries seem like a shining light for those of us hoping for some financial certainty. These digital coins, tied to stable assets, could be just what we need to not only keep our wages intact but also make payroll smoother. So let's chat about how stablecoin salaries can shift the way we think about employee pay, what advantages they bring to both sides, and the bumps we might hit along the way. READ MORE

Want A Team That Thinks Like Owners? Variable Compensation Is The Answer

I recently tied the bonus of our VP of engineering to our ARR target. Initially, he said I was insane. But six months later, he thanked me. The distinct mindset shift — from owning a function to owning the outcome — changed everything.

Startups are under more pressure than ever to hit revenue milestones with leaner teams. Yet compensation models don’t always reflect this. It’s common for sales teams to chase bonuses while the rest of the organization operates on fixed salaries, detached from the company’s growth. That’s a missed opportunity. READ MORE

Why Gratitude In The Workplace Is Crucial—And Part Of Compensation

Gratitude is not just transactional reinforcement, it’s a connection between people. It affirms belonging, value, and shared purpose. Gratitude also humanizes work, affirming not just what someone did, but who they are and where they belong. It affirms alignment, partnership, and dignity. That is the intersection of strategy and psychology—a space too often overlooked in leadership writing. READ MORE

One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Qualified Overtime Compensation Deduction

The Qualified Overtime Compensation (QOC) deduction rules—codified in new Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 225—provide a potential federal income tax deduction of $12,500 per year for qualifying taxpayers who file a Form 1040 individual income tax return under the “single” filing status, while qualifying taxpayers who file a Form 1040 individual income tax return under the “married-filing-jointly” status may be able to claim a maximum QOC deduction of $25,000 per year. READ MORE

Feeling underpaid at work? Here's how to navigate salary frustration in 2025.

Many American workers still feel they’re not paid what they’re worth, despite modest improvements in compensation trends in 2025. According to new data from HR tech company Energage, just 69% of employees feel their pay is fair — making pay one of the least satisfying parts of the workplace experience.

What’s behind the frustration? Economic pressures like inflation and rising costs are eroding perceived gains. “Salaries aren’t keeping up with inflation,” says Sam DeMase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter. “While workers may feel like they’re earning more due to pay increases, their purchasing power remains stagnant.” READ MORE

BLS commissioner salary: How much did McEntarfer make before Trump fired her

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is an independent statistical agency that compiles and releases key U.S. economic data, such as employment and inflation. It operates under a much larger agency of the U.S. government, the Department of Labor.

The person who oversees the statistics bureau is the Commissioner of Labor Statistics and also goes by the title of the Statistical Official for the Department of Labor. The August 2025 ouster of the statistics chief by President Trump called into question the independence of the bureau, and now many Americans are wondering what will happen next and who will be appointed. READ MORE

A Quality Exec Comp Plan Lowers The Risk Of Investing In JBSS

Incentives play a critical role in shaping behavior. When a company ties executive compensation to revenue growth or flawed metrics like adjusted EBITDA, it’s only natural that executives will prioritize those targets.

However, growing revenue or adjusted EBITDA without regard for real profits undermines the company’s long-term financial health. It also destroys shareholder value. READ MORE

Stablecoin Salaries: The New Frontier in Employee Compensation

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the evolving landscape of employee compensation, you might have noticed a rising trend that’s beginning to take shape: stablecoin salaries. As economic uncertainty continues to cast a shadow over traditional financial systems, many workers are leaning towards receiving their pay in stablecoins. Why? Because they’re looking for a little predictability in this chaotic world. READ MORE