Meet Randall Stephenson. He’s the CEO of the company I work for. To avoid any trouble I better not reveal what company it is. Let’s just say it contains the letters A,T,and T in the name. It was recently revealed he earned roughly $18 million dollars in 2007. Keep in mind the company has laid people off over the past year. For $18 million dollars you could employ someone who makes $40 thousand dollars a year for 450 years or 450 people for a year. You get the point.
To break it down for you, he made a bonus of over $600k, $3.85 million in performance based pay and stock options valued at $12.2 million. He also received $89,919 for personal use of the jet because I think we all know regular planes aren’t good enough what with their forcing someone to be around regular people. He also received $15,455 for home security. I’m pretty sure you can get Brinks for like $200.00 a month. Someone should tell him he’s being ripped off.
So what is my point? I have no problem with anyone making their own way in this world and I admire anyone who becomes successful. I do not however respect anyone who gained success on the backs of those who actually do work for a living rife with menial labor as opposed to one where generous amounts of ass kissing gets the job done. Any man who accepts that much money heading a company where people with families are laid off and left with nothing needs to really examine if he’s worth it. (hint - he’s not)
I understand a company is in business to make money. I understand sometimes staff needs to be let go. I understand there is a huge responsibility in running a large company, but how much is enough? At what point will these people understand when it is revealed they make more money than most working people will see in their entire lives it obliterates the notion of a work ethic. For every extra hour worked, for every extra effort given there is someone else profiting from it.
I’m not asking anyone to give any money back, or even saying this isn’t a reasonable amount of money to make as long as the employees are taken care of and the company is continuing to make money. As soon as people have to stop paying exorbitant amounts for their cell phone bills, and they get cell service that works on their $400.00 iPhone and employees are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, people shouldn’t be making $18 million dollars.
That’s just the opinion of a working class, probably soon to be unemployed, working American. I’d rather be broke with integrity than making a fortune by taking food from children’s mouths.
RIGHT NOW
MOVIE - No Country for Old Men - Brilliant. I can’t say much more than that about it.
SONG - Piece of Me by Britney - Even though she’s gone off the deep end, she still makes catchy music. It’s crap and I know it. I should be ashamed.
- Joel
March 27th, 2008 at 11:53 am
AMEN