From the Cannabis Compensation Consultant “A page-by-page peek at pair of popular pot periodicals and the people who publish pages for the partying portion of the population.” That was the subtitle of a term paper in Journalism 101, circa 1976, and the professor was the founder of the LA Free Press, Art Kunkin (died 30 April 2019). The paper received a … Read More
Cannabis Compensation #1
From the Cannabis Compensation Consultant I did inhale. I also held it in as long as I could to maximize the effects. Who would have thought that would ever intersect with my investing activity and commentary on executive compensation? (Full disclosure: I reside in the state of Washington where recreational cannabis is legal. We have a pot store just about … Read More
Stupid Compensation Plans – The Next Chapter
I am not understanding how a prospective, not retroactive, reduction in corporate tax rates should result in boards of directors and executives thinking that this should justify a $1,000 bonus for every employee. Whether you are an airline, or a bank, or neither an airline or a bank. Nevermind pay-for-performance so that people about to be fired get the same as the … Read More
It’s Time to Kill Merit Increase Processes and Salary Budget Surveys – What Better Time to Start Than Labor Day?
Fred Whittlesey Compensation Venture Group, SPC An oversize postcard in my mailbox today – yes, a real physical heavy stock paper postcard – is touting the value of the 44th annual salary budget survey from a compensation professional association. The pitch says that this survey “will provide the knowledge you need.” If I told you that the message on the … Read More
Restructuring Executive Incentive Metrics for Sustainability
The growing global movement of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, conscious capitalism and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria is on a collision course with the executive compensation world’s focus on shareholders and adherence to proxy advisers’ checklists. Executive compensation performance measures must evolve quickly, but what’s lacking is a cohesive and comprehensive framework for defining metrics that are consistent with … Read More
Compensation Venture Group, SPC Earns the Green Business Certification
Compensation Venture Group is a Washington Social Purpose Corporation, a Certified B Corporation, and now a Certified Green Business Read Green America’s blog here
The Real Risk of Working at a Startup
When we think of working at a startup, we might imagine a lower base salary, no annual bonus, sparse benefits, and lots of equity – usually stock options. Most realize that equity is a highly risky form of compensation and few startups ever make it to the IPO, another small number get acquired (at a much lower multiple than … Read More
Compensation Integrity: What the Heck is Going On?
Fred Whittlesey Compensation Venture Group, SPC An update on this continuing theme. Disney will pay $38 million in back wages after feds allege wage and hour violations Wouldn’t it be better to have competent compensation professionals who have the “spine” to stand up to senior management and ensure compliance? It shouldn’t take a judge to know the right thing to do. Conscious … Read More
How much is turnover costing your company?
Fred Whittlesey Compensation Venture Group, SPC Since the 1980s there has been an empirically validated methodology for calculating employee turnover cost. The concept of human resource accounting, created by Eric Flamholtz, Professor at UCLA Anderson business school, includes detailed approaches for determining these costs. I had the honor, as an MBA student, of working with Dr. Flamholtz on … Read More
