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January 2012

Executive Compensation... || ...and Severance Packages

General Salary & Compensation Information is also available. We also have links to information on employment and compensation law.

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Executive Compensation

The Crystal Report on Executive Compensation

This list of articles analyzes compensation for chief execs from a variety of viewpoints. In some cases Mr. Crystal looks at a particular individual while in others he looks at the compensation practices for a particular group. Sometimes he looks at pay practices in general. With his extensive background in this particular field, his articles are worth a careful look, and you can read several of them for free [PDF format].

EDGAR Database of Corporate Information, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Compensation for the top executives and members of the board of directors of every publicly traded company in the United States must be reported to the SEC. While some fee-based EDGAR services will pull this information out for you, it is not difficult to find it using this free database. Select two or three competitive companies similar in size and industry to your preferred employer, go to EDGAR's "Search for Company Filings" and use the "Company & Other Filers" area to search EDGAR for the each company, then select the most recent DEF 14A form. Use the Find command in your web browser (usually Control-F) to scan the long document for the word "compensation." Not only will this reveal salary and stock information, but it also may give you some ideas for additional compensation considerations, like cars, travel expenses for your spouse or partner when you travel, cell phones, and much more.

Executive Compensation: Where to Find in SEC Reports

...which is also very useful for those looking for guidance in negotiation compensation. "The federal securities laws require clear, concise and understandable disclosure about the amount and type of compensation paid to chief executive officers and other highly compensated executives of public companies." This guide from the SEC is designed to help you locate this information in company reports.

FindLaw Business Contracts: Compensation

...actual copies of employment, severance and compensation agreements. Select a type of agreement to review, then review the list and select those you want to review. This list also includes noncompete agreements

Business Week

...presents frequent articles on management and executive salaries throughout the year. To start your search in their site, head to their Career area. Then, use their Search feature and search for terms like "executive pay", "ceo pay" and "compensation" to find reports and articles from all over the site. Some content on Business Week's web site is for subscribers only, but much of it is open to the public.

Forbes.com Articles on Executive Compensation

Forbes does regular reports on executive compensation. The best way to find them is to search their site for "executive compensation." Forbes is now requiring readers to register to read some articles on their web site. It's free, fast, you don't have to give them your name, and you only get their enewsletters if you decide to check the boxes (the default is you don't get any of them.)

Executive Pay: What the Boss Makes

..review the list many ways, including company name, name of an individual, rank by total compensation, state, or industry. These include very brief bios for each lucky participant, and data for several years is available. Nice feature: click on executive's name for a slightly expanded review of his/her compensation and how it compares to industry medians.

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Severance Packages

This information is provided to give you some idea of severance packages and how to negotiate severance either at the beginning or end of your tenure with an employer.

Negotiate a Fair Termination Settlement, Cover-letters.com

"If you are forced to leave, negotiate a fair severance package and get it in writing. If you do leave the corporation, leave on good terms. Don't burn bridges. The few hours surrounding your departure could be the most important moments of your career, because they help define your reputation. Your behavior will be carefully watched, and you'll be remembered for years, either as a respected professional or as a troublemaker. Keep in mind, you want this employer to serve as a reference in the future, and your next job offer(s) could hinge on what they say. You may be one of two finalists for your ideal job. If you leave 'kicking and screaming,' reference-checking could ruin your candidacy. Future employers often check references as far back as ten years. Don't lose a valuable job offer because you once left a company on bad terms." Excellent advice from William Frank, an experienced career management professional.

Career Protection

...this company works to protect your career, assisting you with negotiations after a layoff or other termination as well as when you are considering a new job offer. They have some good information for you to review (FAQ under each topic) before you call them about your own situation, including a nice bit titled the 8 Biggest Severance Mistakes.

Severance Agreement FAQs

Short list and short answers from the law firm of Fortney & Klingshirn

You may also want to review some of the information under Negotiating.

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