Disney CEO 35% raise

[WDSearcher]

While that amount of money seem huge to me, It is not out of line when compaired to not only CEO's, but union bosses, and political leaders ect. as well. There always has been and there always will be wealthy people and there will always be people in need.... Nature of the world.

Now here is the real question. Is having money the only way to have a happy content life? Is Igor happier then me? Nope. I highly doubt it. I do not want his life or his money. I am pretty happy. He is not "richer" then me. There are more important things in life then money.

But you're assuming here that he feels that money is the most important thing, and you don't know that. Sure, he gets paid a lot, but if you walked into a job where everyone else was making $1000 an hour (and the job was worth $1000 an hour), would you say, "Oh ... really ... I only need $50 an hour, so you don't have to pay me the going rate." Probably not. If you're offered a raise at your job, are you going to turn it down because it won't make you any happier than you already are? Again ... probably not. You're assuming that Bob Iger loves his money more than anything else and that he judges his success by that. But you have no proof. How do you know that Bob isn't "richer" than you? Unless you've spent some time with him and have seen how his life is as a whole, you can't possibly know.

If I was so unhappy about how Disney was taking advantage of it's workers I would not give them my money and I would not spend my time on a Disney discussion board?? You all can directly effect Igors wage next year. Don't go to Disney.

True in spirit, not so much in practice. If everyone (every single person) on the DIS cancelled their next trip to Disney, it would be noticed, but it would be a blip on the overall Guest radar. The DIS is a very small sample of the millions of people who visit Disney parks each year. It would have to be the DIS times a hundred people cancelling before profitability is impacted to the point that Iger's wage might be affected.

 

[JenSop]

Holy cow - this thread went a bit crazy in the short time I was gone!

Unfortunately, many words have come to take on "negative connotations" by modern society, when that really shouldn't be the case. My first encounter with political ideologies was in a college course that I took while I was still in high school. I learned alot about the basic concepts of all these different ideologies and learned about the positives and negatives of every single one. And they ALL have negatives.

Therefore, I am not offended by being called "a communist." Although when it comes to straight up definitions, I don't really fall in that category - I'm not a communist. I'd call myself "socialist-leaning" for the simple fact that I think hard workers at the bottom get the short end of the stick time and time again.

Do I think people should be able to make lots of money? Sure! Work hard and make that money!

But give me a break! 38 million in ONE YEAR?!?!? Seriously - if I made that kind of money in one year knowing I was possibly making it by sending even just one person to the brink of poverty, I would not be able to sleep at night. I wouldn't be able to live with myself! I think we should all help eachother out - you know, like civilized human beings. That's all.

 

[ftballfan7]

Here is how Disney treats their cast members. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BMQ3xQc7o&feature=player_embedded#

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

His comp in years prior was $40m and $50m so he is down from that.

Most of his comp is tied to equity in DIS.

measurements give weird results. for example, in 2008 he was granted options that were valued at millions of dollars on grant, but that were underwater at the time his comp was released to the public. they are probably worth a lot now though, because DIS has rallied from low 20s to low 40s.

his base salary is around $2m.

 

[TenderDonkey]

Here is how Disney treats their cast members. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BMQ3xQc7o&feature=player_embedded#

You know what, get a new job. I do not feel bad for them. Before you are hired they go over the benefits and pay. If that doesn't meet your needs go elsewhere. I'm sorry but the guy sweeping up horse poop doesn't deserve to make $75k with full benefits.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I dont have a problem with people making lots of money. What I do have a problem with is companies all of a sudden crying poverty when it cones to giving the rest of the workers raises.

My hospital tried to do this..they asked the staff to forgo the annual raise. However, our CEO is the highest paid CEO in the region, and the top executives at the hospital each got huge bonuses come Christmas time. We have a union though, so they could only ask us to vote on it. Not surprisingly, we collectively told them to jump in the lake, lol.

I think the CMs deserve better than what they get pay wise.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Seriously - if I made that kind of money in one year knowing I was possibly making it by sending even just one person to the brink of poverty, I would not be able to sleep at night. I wouldn't be able to live with myself! I think we should all help eachother out - you know, like civilized human beings. That's all.

beautiful sentiment, totally impractical. heck, every time you shop at Walmart, every time you buy anything "made in China" you are part of sending people to the brink of poverty.

 

[ftballfan7]

You know what, get a new job. I do not feel bad for them. Before you are hired they go over the benefits and pay. If that doesn't meet your needs go elsewhere. I'm sorry but the guy sweeping up horse poop doesn't deserve to make $75k with full benefits.

Nice. Perhaps he doesn't deserve to make 75k, but he shouldn't have to be on food stamps either. There are not a whole lot of jobs in Central Florida that wouldn't put him in the same boat. Unfortunately Florida is not a union-friendly state and makes it difficult for labor organizations to negotiate a fair livable wage.

 

[Mary T in PA]

I say more power to him...I am not rich nor would I want to be that rich. I am comfortable, happy, and healthy.

I cannot imagine the stress - he has stockholders to answer to, and the stock performance is the bottom line. Obviously he is doing something right and that should be good news to all of us as that means that Disney will be around for awhile.

I thought alot of his compensation was in stock, so really, he isn't making that much money.. I doubt he can touch the stock options right now. And if the company goes into a downward spiral under his helm, those options won't be worth much.

 

[WDSearcher]

Nice. Perhaps he doesn't deserve to make 75k, but he shouldn't have to be on food stamps either. There are not a whole lot of jobs in Central Florida that wouldn't put him in the same boat. Unfortunately Florida is not a union-friendly state and makes it difficult for labor organizations to negotiate a fair livable wage.

To me, though, that's exactly it. (The bolded part.) It's not just about Disney. The CMs in this particular union don't acknowledge that Disney is competitive in the region. They don't comment on the fact that Disney has certain perks (park and merch discounts, for example) the the very CMs doing the complaining take full advantage of whenever they can. They don't comment on what other people doing the same job as they are (housekeeping, bus driver, etc) are making for a living in Orlando (or LA). They don't look at the marketplace and compare what they make to everyone else. They simply believe that Disney should pay them more.

The last time I was at Disneyland, there was a union protest going on. People dressed up in fake character costumes, marching with signs and handing out flyers. One guy in a really bad Donald Duck costume scared the heck out of the little kid behind me. As I was walking along, I noticed two of the protesters checking e-mail or messages or whatever on their iPhones. They're screaming that Disney doesn't pay them a living wage while checking messages on their iPhones. Maybe get rid of the iPhone and save some cash, y'know?

Everyone's "poverty level" is different. To some people, it truly means rock bottom. Not being able to feed their family. Having to choose between heat and food. To others, it means not being able to afford a flat screen. Or not getting a second car. Without knowing how the folks in the video are actually living -- how they choose to spend their money, how they budget -- it's impossible to know how credible their claims are. I've known people who can survive quite nicely on half of what I make, and I know people who scream "poverty" making twice what I do.

 

[mhconley]

beautiful sentiment, totally impractical. heck, every time you shop at Walmart, every time you buy anything "made in China" you are part of sending people to the brink of poverty.

It is NOT impractical...

That's exactly why I have never and will never shop at Walmart; heck I won't even take someone else to Walmart. I also try to never buy anything that's made in China. If I am shopping for something and there is an American-made product next a foreign-made one I'll buy the American made product, EVERY TIME, even at double the price!

If more people followed these few rules the US would be a heck of a lot better off...

Martin

 

[Planogirl]

I wish that someone would post a survey so we can see what kind of people defend the high salaries of bigwigs vs those who feel like the little guy should get more. I always wonder why the two polar opposites exist.

I personally don't begrudge the high salaries even though I think that they are often over the top. I don't begrudge anyone making whatever they can get.

However I also understand the other side. I'm one of those who works VERY hard doing complicated tasks and I am very underpaid. Our managers make much more and I'm not overly impressed with the brilliance of some of them. Some of them know people if you get what I mean.

It gets tiring to always be one of those who helps a company profit but gets little chance to share in that profit. It must also get tiring to be at the receiving end of so much negativity from both customers and management and then to come to forums like this and find out how little value you have. People want to live as well as possible and it must be frustrating when a company you love won't provide that opportunity.

Get another job? Of course, that's easy...

 

[RalphinSC]

This thing has gotten way off topic. Let's get back to the heart of the matter here.....




Those refillable resort mugs.............

 

[JenSop]

This thing has gotten way off topic. Let's get back to the heart of the matter here.....




Those refillable resort mugs.............

Haha!!!

 

[verlee]

WDSearcher, I think we agree. I just did not make my point very well.... I just meant to say that all this arguing about the amount of money he makes vs his employees is meaningless. It is all relative. Disney employees make more then most of the world who live on $2/day. I did not mean to say Bob Iger loves money more then anything else. I don't know Bob. I meant to say that I am just as happy without all his money. Basically, that money is not the most important thing in the world.

I don't think he should have turned down his raise. I don't know anyone who would..Although I did just hear about a baseball player who turned down a multi-million dollar contract because he did not feel he deserved it. He had been injured and had not played much. I am not sure of his name.

I also agree with you that one person canceling their trip will not directly impact the CEO. But my point is that if someone feels strongly about an injustice.. strongly enough to scold others.... they are obligated to act on it in their own lives or what they are saying is hypocritical.

 

[verlee]

This thing has gotten way off topic. Let's get back to the heart of the matter here.....




Those refillable resort mugs.............

Oh wait scrap that last comment. Lets do this.

 

[ftballfan7]

To me, though, that's exactly it. (The bolded part.) It's not just about Disney. The CMs in this particular union don't acknowledge that Disney is competitive in the region. They don't comment on the fact that Disney has certain perks (park and merch discounts, for example) the the very CMs doing the complaining take full advantage of whenever they can. They don't comment on what other people doing the same job as they are (housekeeping, bus driver, etc) are making for a living in Orlando (or LA). They don't look at the marketplace and compare what they make to everyone else. They simply believe that Disney should pay them more.

They did acknowledge that. However, as the largest employer in the region, Disney sets the market. If Disney's employees are successful in raising their wages, the wages of other employees in the region will follow. When this happens the working population of an area has more disposable income and many others in the area then benefit strengthening the middle calss as a whole. This is not an uncommon phenomenon.

Unfortunately, Florida does not have union-friendly statutes which make it very difficult for effective collective bargaining to take place. Again, someday the people of Florida will realize that they are being manipulated by slick marketing campaigns and all this will change. We are lucky that in our country there are peaceful ways to affect these changes with our votes. That is not the way everywhere, just look at Egypt.

 

[collegejunkie]

You know what, get a new job. I do not feel bad for them. Before you are hired they go over the benefits and pay. If that doesn't meet your needs go elsewhere. I'm sorry but the guy sweeping up horse poop doesn't deserve to make $75k with full benefits.

this. it's really idealistic to sit back and say that everyone deserves to live very comfortable, have great health insurance, etc. but why? just because they're people? that doesn't make them necessarily valuable, though i realize how that sounds. there's a reason that there are people like the CEO making the big bucks and there are people who don't make lots of money. CMs jobs aren't hard, so even if a hundred of them threw a tantrum and quit, it would be very easy to replace them. they're not "important" in that the company will go under without them. this is true in most companies. so, yes, sad that not everyone can have things that maybe they should, but they need to earn it. they can work somewhere else if they're that unhappy. will the CEO need 38 million or whatever it is? probably not, but that's not for you to decide. if you worked your way up to that point and then decided that you were happy without a bonus, then good for you, but i think most people, if given this bonus/salary, would not feel badly about taking it. i think everyone is quick to react when they're not given the same.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

It is NOT impractical...

That's exactly why I have never and will never shop at Walmart; heck I won't even take someone else to Walmart. I also try to never buy anything that's made in China. If I am shopping for something and there is an American-made product next a foreign-made one I'll buy the American made product, EVERY TIME, even at double the price!

If more people followed these few rules the US would be a heck of a lot better off...

Martin

What about the Chinese peasant that is working to make the refillable mug you buy at your resort? He won't won't be better off if you don't buy his goods.....you are driving him to the brink of poverty!

 

[Texas Rob]

I must admit during hte first two pages read I was thinking, "man that is a lot of money what a big jerk!" Then I got to thinking about my past four disney experiences and how great they were. My last one I had a medical issue and could not use 3 of my 7 disney passes to the parks (they expired too). So the CM's took care of me by upgrading me to a better room and some other free junk. It made the whole family feel better. So, while this man makes lords of money, he takes care of the very important people at disney...the guests...