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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/business/10comp.html?scp=1&sq=ceo%20salaries%20&st=cse

I thought that this article relates to this blog because it is all about top C.E.O.’s who make an incredibly gross amount of money per year.  This may seem fair and justifiable to some of you, but when people are being laid off as the C.E.O. brings in over 80 million a year, it just seems unethical.  The article is all about the top paid C.E.O.’s and how many of them took raises last year.

According to the definition of ethics from Northouse, it is “concerned with the kinds of values and morals an individual or society finds desirable or appropriate”.  In this case, C.E.O.’s are getting raises when people are losing jobs, the economy is barley turning around and they are already making over seven figures.  This is a something that most of society would definitely find to be undesirable and inappropriate.  Northouse brings up the question from the theological perspective “what is right”.  This is a valid question for this scenario.  Is it right for a C.E.O. to make 87.5 million dollars in only nine months?  Sure these companies might be doing well or growing, but salaries that are this high proves that these C.E.O.’s fall under ethical egotism.  This theory states that one “should act so as to create the greatest good for herself or himself”.  If they are giving themselves substantial raises during tough times instead of paying dividends to stockholders, hiring more employees, or reinvesting the money in the company, then they are acting in the best interest of themselves.  A C.E.O. should act under the principles of altruism the leader should act on behalf of the best interest for others even if it conflicts with their personal beliefs.  As a C.E.O., the interest for the others would include all of the people involved with the corporation as well as the general public.


Thanks for reading,
-Dan Condon