HNI CEO Makes Too Much Money

We recently learned that the CEO for HNI Muscatine earned a little under $3 million dollars in 2007. Let's clarify - that's nearly $3,000,000. Enough to buy 157 hybrid Honda Civics. Or 50 modest houses. Or new wind energy generators that could power nearly every business along Park Avenue.

So, the top executive of a office chair/fireplace company made three million worth of stock, cash, and retirement funds. That's enough to give the top 200 employees an extra $10,000, and still be able to shell out a million to the CEO.

What spectacular things has this guy done to deserve so much compensation? Nobody deserves to make that much money when some people work the night-shift, go to school, and take care of a family and still can not get by.

Mise en Place

How did the HNI CEO earn that money?

A long time ago, someone had a great idea and thus HON was born..it was passed down to those who deserve it, or maybe he didn't but the point is he was smart enough to do the right things in order to obtain that position.

Survival of the fittest at its best. Nature doesn't pick the merciful lion with a big heart..it picks the lion that bites the sick baby zebra and eats it.

Apr 29, 08 at 4:56pm · Report

Ryan Kopf

Heya This is not a socialist society, but the question is how did the HNI CEO earn that much money? I know people who have worked their hands to the bone all the time and were always reliable. But did they get 3 million a year? No, they didn't. Why not? Because fat-wallet CEOs collect all the money.

I would never ask you to give up the money you've earned to someone who hasn't earned it. But it's just hard to believe this guy, or any other CEO, works THAT hard. Are you telling me nobody else can do the amazing things he does?

Oh, and T.S. I'm sorry to hear about the HR department. Unfortunately, that seems to be the way things go these days... the people in charge no longer care about the little people. All I can do is wish you luck.

Apr 23, 08 at 2:47pm · Report

T.S.

who do you complain to when the people who recieve the complaint are the problem? HNI employs a very unprofessional HR department, as I have recently discovered. How does one make a complaint about a problem when the people who handle the complaints ARE the problem?

Apr 19, 08 at 7:58pm · Report

Mise en Place

seriously? The HNI CEO has earned that money...and the last time I checked this was not a socialist society. Everyone deserves to make that much money who has WORKED for that money. I can't be held responsible for everyone else's financial problems. Work hard and you will reap the benefits. It's his money to do what he pleases, whether its spending it all on Ben and Jerry's ice cream or securing a stable future for himself and his family. I applaud the man for putting Muscatine on the map.

My question to you is..how much money is too much? Where does it end? By your reasoning..if I make 100 dollars a year, shouldn't I give it to someone who makes zero dollars a year?

One of the worst things we can do as a society is make the poor comfortable being poor.

Apr 19, 08 at 4:47pm · Report