Originally Published PR Week
It has been more than 40 years since a group of Columbia University students staged a sit-in at the office of the president, Grayson Kirk, to protest (among other things) the school’s affiliation with a consortium that did military research for the government. The incident led some to conclude that a generational revolution had begun with radical college students leading the way.
While the recent presidential campaign saw a return to the headlines of one of that era’s revolutionaries – William Ayers – many observed that today’s college students seemed pretty docile compared to their parents’ generation. Where were the anti-war protesters? Where were the anti-globalists? Why weren’t more students displaying anger with the corporate greed that had sown the seeds for financial cataclysm? (more…)
It’s time to hand out bonuses: but wait, in this environment?
Bob Feldman
December 15th, 2008
Originally Published PR Week
Many companies are in a predicament right now. Their financial performance during the first half of the year was fairly strong and, as such, their full-year numbers are good enough to provide bonuses to key staff members who performed well.
But the second half of the year, especially the fourth quarter, has been terrible, with signs that things will only get worse in 2009. In an environment of staff and budget cuts, how can a company also pay out bonuses?
This dilemma raises two questions, one financial, and the other moral. First, is it financially prudent to pay out bonuses, even if “earned” in 2008, when 2009 has the potential to be a financial disaster? (more…)
Tags: Commentary, Compensation, Leadership
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