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Why work has failed us: Because companies aren’t sharing the profits
09-05-2018, 07:28 AM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,659
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Why work has failed us: Because companies aren’t sharing the profits
That's the title of this article:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90227917...gnant-salaries
It also pretty well sums up the changes I've seen in my career.
To summarize, all the money is going to the investor class, while the workers are getting nothing.
I don't expect a sympathetic audience here. Maybe the smart ones will do something to reverse this trend before something bad happens. Maybe a few will actually feel a pang of regret for being part of this system.
Personally, I've been very fortunate to have worked most of my life before things got this bad, and to have gotten out when I did. My concern is that the current trend will lead to social unrest, which is bad for everyone, including my own modest 401k.
OK, I've got my flame-retardant suit out and I'm ready to face the "greed is good" and "trickle down" arguments.
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09-05-2018, 07:42 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,893
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It's called capitalism and the playing field is not level for the average Joe and never has been. That is why you have to win the birth lottery or be a little smarter than the average Joe and a bit of luck doesn't hurt either.
__________________
Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
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09-05-2018, 08:03 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,570
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Union! Union! Union!
__________________
You know that suit they burying you in? Thar ain’t no pockets in that suit, boy.
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Retirees of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your gains
09-05-2018, 08:08 AM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The Shire
Posts: 1,504
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Retirees of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your gains
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
To summarize, all the money is going to the investor class, while the workers are getting nothing.
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My only disagreement with this is that you ignore the top execs. When I hired in at Megacorp in 1980, the CEO made about 40x as much as a rookie engineer. Today it's more than 400x, even though the company has only 1/6 as many employees.
Quote:
I don't expect a sympathetic audience here. Maybe the smart ones will do something to reverse this trend before something bad happens. Maybe a few will actually feel a pang of regret for being part of this system.
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I gotta call foul here. Exactly what is it that you expect any of us small investors to do? Please be specific.
Quote:
OK, I've got my flame-retardant suit out and I'm ready to face the "greed is good" and "trickle down" arguments.
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Again, this sounds like a generalized accusation of moral equivalence between ordinary indexers and the greenmail industry. Sorry, but it's just not valid.
Please reread your linked article and note that the authors of the corporate destruction you decry are "private equity" firms. That includes almost zero of us. Perhaps you could show us where in the prospectus of an index fund it directs the fund manager to engage in M&A of individual companies.
__________________
Paying it forward is the best investment.
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09-05-2018, 08:29 AM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,915
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
That's the title of this article:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90227917...gnant-salaries
It also pretty well sums up the changes I've seen in my career.
To summarize, all the money is going to the investor class, while the workers are getting nothing.
I don't expect a sympathetic audience here. Maybe the smart ones will do something to reverse this trend before something bad happens. Maybe a few will actually feel a pang of regret for being part of this system.
Personally, I've been very fortunate to have worked most of my life before things got this bad, and to have gotten out when I did. My concern is that the current trend will lead to social unrest, which is bad for everyone, including my own modest 401k.
OK, I've got my flame-retardant suit out and I'm ready to face the "greed is good" and "trickle down" arguments.
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I don't necessarily disagree with your premise. I think, as in all things, "it depends." Which company do you w*rk for? What is their place in the "life-cycle" of similar companies. What type of w*rk force do they empl*y. Etc., etc.
Now, at the point you (excuse me "one") decides he (s/he) w*rks for one of those evil capitalist companies, buy their bloody stock! Of course, that assumes you (one) really believes that Company A or Megacorp B actually has the ability to make money on the backs of their empl*yees. It's kind of the same argument always made about the greedy (fill in the blank - pharma, big oil, big tobacco, etc. etc.) If you really believe they have the ability to "gauge" with their prices, buy their stock.
As always, it's not quite so easy when you look at it from the market end of things. You really do have to believe in your premise if you're going to buy in (and not just be a wage "slave"), so YMMV.
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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09-05-2018, 08:33 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,050
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Wages have gotten so low and corporations so greedy that I wouldn’t be surprised if we have civil unrest. Income inequality has become a huge problem. Locally people with 2 jobs are having trouble affording the rent on a apartment. Forget about buying a house.
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09-05-2018, 08:37 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
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Another article that talks about "wages" not "total compensation".
Non wage compensation gets increased to cover higher health insurance costs, but since that's not a "wage increase" it's invisible.
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09-05-2018, 08:39 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolau
Now, at the point you (excuse me "one") decides he (s/he) w*rks for one of those evil capitalist companies, buy their bloody stock! Of course, that assumes you (one) really believes that Company A or Megacorp B actually has the ability to make money on the backs of their empl*yees. It's kind of the same argument always made about the greedy (fill in the blank - pharma, big oil, big tobacco, etc. etc.) If you really believe they have the ability to "gauge" with their prices, buy their stock.
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Actually the Megacorp I worked for was just acquired. While we shareowners made some money the C levels were the biggest winners around. I don't get paying someone a 40mm bonus for a couple of years.
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09-05-2018, 08:53 AM
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#9
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Fargo
Posts: 990
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The megacorp I work for had a record, record year. I work in finance. Budgets are tight, shrinking. The opposite of what you would expect.
The only strategy that works (no matter who pays or what your salary is) is to stop making "buying stuff" your hobby. Save a bunch and spend less.
Pile it up until you can walk away. Early or "on time".
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09-05-2018, 08:54 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,915
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRG
I don't get paying someone a 40mm bonus for a couple of years.
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Nor do I. As I alluded to, buying into a company is a risky business. BUT, my point is to act on your assumptions that "they" have the game all rigged. If you really believe in the "premise", you should act on it and buy the "sure thing." Of course, you could be w*rking for a lousy, greedy, empl*yee-abusing company that manages to loose money, so there's that.
I certainly do NOT defend the changes I too have seen in corporate America (and corporate "world.") (I eventually came to at least somewhat despise the Megacorp I USED to be proud to w*rk for.) I'm just saying that if you REALLY believe the premise that the game is rigged in Megacorp's favor - and against the empl*yee, put your money where your beliefs are. Probably, better yet, buy "all" the greedy, rigged Megacorps and REALLY put your beliefs into action. Has worked for most on this forum. Dealing with our individual greedy, rigged companies is what we call FIREing. As always, YMMV.
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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09-05-2018, 08:55 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
To summarize, all the money is going to the investor class, while the workers are getting nothing.
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OK, I'll open up with my flame thrower.
Workers can join the investor class as soon as they learn about IRAs and taxes. As soon as I learned that long-term capital gains are not taxed for low income folks, I was troubled by all these folks paying income taxes on their CDs and high yield savings accounts.
There are significant tax breaks for folks like me that invest their money even while working. If one is paying taxes on their investments, then they are truly high income.
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09-05-2018, 09:02 AM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bloom2708
The megacorp I work for had a record, record year. I work in finance. Budgets are tight, shrinking. The opposite of what you would expect.
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Really? I would expect that a record year happens in part because the company pays close attention to keeping expenses minimized.
One of the companies I worked for died when it started spending profligately, then when the downturn came (it always does) the baseline expenses were way too high.
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09-05-2018, 09:09 AM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,890
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I can speak from my experience at megacorp at the C level and if the board wants to make a move, they make a move. And the board is elected by the shareholders. If the shareholders didn't like their CEO making 400x the average worker's salary, they could do something about it.
Maybe it has something to do with shareholders not actively participating in the company? Maybe we can't. I would be curious to see data on how much of U.S. public companies are owned by institutional investors. Can we vote as shareholders if we own stock through a mutual fund or ETF?
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09-05-2018, 09:38 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,419
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
To summarize, all the money is going to the investor class, while the workers are getting nothing.
My concern is that the current trend will lead to social unrest, which is bad for everyone, including my own modest 401k.
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While it's just good business to do well for your employees and community, somehow we've gotten into this mindset that companies 'owe' something beyond an obligation to the shareholders.
The "investor class" conjures up images of rich guys sitting in their mahogany club room smoking cigars, laughing at the poor when in fact, it's you, me and everyone with a 401k/IRA or a properly invested pension.
We already have social unrest; just watch the news.
What's bad for our 401k's, modest or otherwise is when companies start being forced to dole out profits that should be going to us shareholders to feel-good enterprises.
Harumpf!
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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09-05-2018, 09:46 AM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 11,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by corn18
I can speak from my experience at megacorp at the C level and if the board wants to make a move, they make a move. And the board is elected by the shareholders. If the shareholders didn't like their CEO making 400x the average worker's salary, they could do something about it.
Maybe it has something to do with shareholders not actively participating in the company? Maybe we can't. I would be curious to see data on how much of U.S. public companies are owned by institutional investors. Can we vote as shareholders if we own stock through a mutual fund or ETF?
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Corporate governance likely needs some reformation. The "club" of directors seems to look out for each other first beyond anything else.
Mutual funds vote on behalf of the investors in a way to promote highest earnings, otherwise they would tick off their investors. The investors are way too far away from the corporation and are only happy to see their mutual fund shares improve. Whatever works for the bottom line is good, even on the backs of labor.
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09-05-2018, 09:50 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Hog Mountian
Posts: 2,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frayne
It's called capitalism and the playing field is not level for the average Joe and never has been. That is why you have to be smarter than the average Joe.
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+1.
For the record, I never had to shop at the company store, nor live in the company housing. Generations before us did.
__________________
Never let yesterday use up too much of today.
W. Rogers
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09-05-2018, 10:17 AM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
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Quote:
Originally Posted by corn18
I can speak from my experience at megacorp at the C level and if the board wants to make a move, they make a move. And the board is elected by the shareholders. If the shareholders didn't like their CEO making 400x the average worker's salary, they could do something about it.
Maybe it has something to do with shareholders not actively participating in the company? Maybe we can't. I would be curious to see data on how much of U.S. public companies are owned by institutional investors. Can we vote as shareholders if we own stock through a mutual fund or ETF?
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Ironically, I think the democratization of corporate ownership (through IRAs, 401ks, etc.) has played a role in the shift in business policies. The more owners a company has, the less power the individual shareholder can wield.
Large pension funds, such as those for state employees, can still throw some weight around, but they're dwindling in number and size. Many unions used to have their own funds, but unions have fallen on hard times.
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It takes a billion to raze a corporation
09-05-2018, 10:24 AM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The Shire
Posts: 1,504
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It takes a billion to raze a corporation
Quote:
Originally Posted by corn18
I can speak from my experience at megacorp at the C level and if the board wants to make a move, they make a move. And the board is elected by the shareholders. If the shareholders didn't like their CEO making 400x the average worker's salary, they could do something about it.
Maybe it has something to do with shareholders not actively participating in the company?
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This is spot on. It reflects the tenuous connection created by diffuse ownership. Individual shareholders tend to ignore the proxy cards mailed to them in advance of votes. Shares not voted by their owners are voted by the board; so once a board is entrenched, they can stay entrenched indefinitely. And corporate boards are loaded with CEOs from other corporations; none of them is incentivized to hold down executive compensation lest the contagion spread!
__________________
Paying it forward is the best investment.
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09-05-2018, 10:25 AM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,180
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Globalization, from both a work and education factor, also plays into this. The more you can find workers across the world, the more competition there is for that work, and that increases the ability for a company to pay lower wages/benefits. Meanwhile, C-suite is pay is more measured on revenue and profitability, so the more you get that, the more their pay increases.
Education, particularly a college degree, used to be almost a guarantee for finding good, steady jobs. But the more people who get a degree, the less "special" it is. Then project that on a global scale, and you can see why advanced education has less of an impact on increasing ones wages as it did in the past.
It also seems that education is less about challenging one to be the best in a field, and more about getting as any people in that field... so you have many folks with average skills, instead of fewer folks with great skills. The challenge for attaining personal wage growth is to have great skills in a field that has growing demand.
Generally speaking I do not see an answer to this. While I am all for capitalism (and perhaps my bias is from being the child of minority immigrants who came to this country because it offered - but did not guarantee - better opportunities than the old country, which my siblings and I worked to take advantage of), I worry as I see the growing cost of the basics like rent, a home, and a car without a proportional growth in wages, and the only answer seems to be for folks to have higher debt via longer term loans.
I do not know what to do... unfortunately I see things getting worse before they get better.
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FIREd date: June 26, 2018 - "This Happy Feeling, Going Round and Round!" (GQ)
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09-05-2018, 10:29 AM
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#20
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,038
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Card carrying member of the rentier class here. Is it fair? No. Should the rules of the game be changed to make things more fair? Yes. But until that happens, all I can do is play the hand I have been dealt to the best of my ability.
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Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
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