While CEOs of companies with the strongest financial results are usually paid hundreds of millions of dollars, rank-and-file employees at these corporations are often less fortunate. Only a small number of the best performing companies give raises or bonuses to most employees that are tied to earnings. Why shouldn't these companies spread the wealth?
Several of the American most successful companies have large numbers of low-paid employees. These people work in retail stores and call centers or clean hotel rooms. Some do not make a great deal more than the minimum wage.
However, their work is critical to the daily success of their companies. Despite their modest pay, they are often the face of their corporations. The senior management at companies like McDonald's and AT&T do not deal with customers — the clerks and restaurant staffs do.
Comcast's account executives who sell cable subscriptions do not make a great deal of money. Nevertheless, people who work at some parts of the company's NBC division are paid handsomely.Not all the divisions of these companies pay their employees poorly.
Over the last year, US corporate leaders have often explained layoffs by saying the positions were...
