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In
a survey of 1,037 people in February, 81% of Democrats and 71%
of Republicans said the CEOs of the largest American companies
were paid "too much," according to poll sponsor Just Capital, a
nonprofit focused on corporate stakeholder research.
"The story of this is really nonpartisan, across the board
people are feeling like CEOs are overpaid relative to frontline
workers," said Alison Omens, Just's chief strategy officer.
As boards set CEO pay, they should consider whether there is
"value creation by the CEO in a way the workers will
understand," she said in an interview.
Previous polls have also found public dissatisfaction with high
executive pay, but the political breakdown of those views has
been less explored.
A separate study in April by Equilar found median pay for the
CEOs of 100 top U.S. companies rose 31% in 2021 to a record $20
million, based on proxies filed so far this year, and found the
ratio of CEO pay to the pay of companies' median workers rose to
254:1 from 238:1.
Just Capital used different numbers in polling including a
review of Russell 1000 companies that found a CEO-to-worker pay
ratio of 235:1, and found broad concern the gaps would mean
social problems.
For instance 81% said large companies should do what they can to
provide basic security to their lowest-paid workers, while 19%
said the companies aren't responsible for keeping workers out of
poverty.
While tight labor markets have boosted workers' wages, many
gains have been offset by rising inflation. Omens said
expectations the COVID-19 pandemic and racial-equality movements
would lead to more pay equity now seem less obvious.
(Reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Sam Holmes)
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