â–¶ Even Corporate Directors Think CEO Pay Packages Are Too Steep: A survey of 140 corporate directors, conducted by the USC Marshall School of Business, revealed that most corporate board members believe parts of CEO pay packages need trimming—particularly in benefits, severance and retirement plans. Among the additional findings:
• 47% of respondents think CEOs’ total compensation should decrease;
• 71% believe that tying pay more closely to company performance would be a great or moderate improvement to current models;
• 63% said that tying pay more closely to the performance of individual executives would have a great or moderate increase in the efficacy of CEO compensation plans;
• 58% opposed mandatory shareholder approval of all executive compensation programs because it would greatly or moderately decrease the effectiveness of pay plans;
• 71% said government-imposed limits on executive pay would cause a “great decrease” in the effectiveness of compensation programs; and,
• 86% said their own company’s CEO pay plans are “effective” or “very effective.”
Source: USC Marshall School of Business
â–¶ Civic Engagement & Social Media: Based on the significant role social media played in the 2008 presidential campaign, it’s no surprise that new research from Pew Internet & American Life Project suggests online platforms could continue to influence the scope of individuals’ civic engagement. Among the findings (combined with data from a previous Pew Internet survey):
• 10% of all Internet users have used a social networking site for some sort of political or civic engagement;
• 15% of Internet users have gone online to add to the political discussion by posting comments on a Web site or blog about a political or social issue, posting pictures or video content online related to a political or social issue or using the blog to explore political or social issues;
• 32% of Internet users who are involved in a political or community group have communicated with the group using the group’s Web site, and 10% have done so via instant messaging;
• 5% of group members communicate with fellow members via only digital technologies;
• 24% of online social network users who are involved in a political or community group have communicated with the group specifically through a social network; and,
• Some 30% of political donors gave money online, compared to just 12% of charitable donors.
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project
â–¶ Social Networking Activities: The results of Beresford Research’s “Use of Online Social Networks” white paper revealed that the only online activity more important than social networking—based on responses of more than 400 individuals—is e-mail.
When asked to identify the activities they performed on social networks, respondents cited the following:
• Posting photos: 81%
• Responding to others’ posts: 72%
• Updating activities/posting thoughts: 68%
• Posting links to other Web sites: 50%
• Clicking on paid ads: 38%
• Posting videos: 30%
• Linking to a company/product/service: 25%
• Starting a group: 19%
The survey also found that users trust the information shared on social networks, with 65% claiming to consider that information when making a decision.
Source: Beresford Research
â–¶ Owning a Business Does a Body Good? The recently released Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found that when it comes to occupations’ effects on individuals’ overall well-being, business owners topped the list at 72.5%. The top five occupations relative to overall well-being are:
• Business owner: 72.5%
• Professional: 71.5%
• Manager/executive: 70.9%
• Farming/forestry: 67.8%
• Sales: 67.6% PRN
Source: Gallup and Healthways