compensation

Watchdog: Pay Remains 'Excessive' at Bailed-Out Companies

The government's top bailout watchdog accused the Treasury Department on Monday of failing to rein in "excessive" compensation at AIG, General Motors and Ally Financial. Christy Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or SIGTARP, says that the firms don't understand "their extraordinary situations."

Payments for Bad Foreclosures Are No Undeserved Windfall

Since the housing crash, millions of Americans have lost their homes, many of them victims of improper foreclosures. Now, those unfairly evicted homeowners are getting compensation. But don't be concerned that they're getting more than they deserve.

Something's Not REIT: Real Estate CEOs Are Landing Huge Raises

Once upon a time on Wall Street, if you wanted to make big bucks, you'd head for a big bank, private equity or a hedge fund. Lately, however, things have taken a turn for the surreal. For serious coin, you might be better off running a fuddy-duddy real estate investment trust.

Should You Be Allowed to Sell Your Organs?

Buying organs is illegal in every country except Iran, but more U.S. doctors are warming up to the idea of compensating donors. Would a carefully regulated market save lives, or put medicine on a slippery slope?

Lean Bonus Season Ahead for Wall Street Bankers

With unemployment still high, late mortgage payments rising, and the number of Americans in poverty at record levels, it seems that Main Street is headed for a hard, cold holiday season. But, somewhat surprisingly, so too are the fat cats of Wall Street -- relatively speaking.

Employers Win Workers
With Perks, Not Raises

To retain and attract top employees, U.S. companies are turning to perks such as subsidized training and flexible work conditions rather than raises. These incentives are finding a welcome among employees, too, especially educational benefits.

State Worker Retirements Are Soaring Across the Country

As wages and benefits shrink, state workers are retiring in droves. On top of all the layoffs, these retirements amount to a huge brain drain, and the problem will only get worse given the yawning budget gaps of states from coast to coast.

Recession Lingers On in Silicon Valley

Much has been made recently of the huge valuations of Internet players like Facebook, Twitter and Zynga, but while Web 2.0 is doing well, the Silicon Valley region itself is not. A new report shows compensation and unemployment in the region haven't improved since the downturn.

FDIC Proposes Limits on Banker Pay

The federal government says excessive pay at financial institutions was one of the main causes of the recent economic crisis. It now wants to make sure bank executives and traders take less risk, by insisting they defer a large part of their compensation.

The Hidden Cost of Big Wall Street Bonuses to Society

Though most Americans wish that Congress would rein in excessive pay on Wall Street, that won't happen while the huge campaign contributions keep flowing. And the financial industry's big money shell game drains away something more precious from our society than money -- it siphons off talent.