Blog

Political pressure, public disapproval and campaigning all combined to restrain pay at the top in 2016. But what next? Reality bites: Average FTSE 100 CEO pay packet drops by 17% in the past yearSlowdown in…

High Pay Centre response to the Queen’s Speech – 21 June 2017 Theresa giveth, and Theresa taketh away. Less than a year ago, the prime minister spoke of the “irrational, unhealthy and growing gap” between…

High Pay Centre statement on the Conservative party manifesto On page 18 of the Conservative party manifesto 2017 you find the following section: Fair corporate pay “We believe people should be rewarded for their talents and…

The Labour Party is proposing an "Excessive Pay Levy" on businesses offering very large salaries The Labour Party manifesto, published today (16.5.2017), contains this commitment: “Labour will also legislate to reduce pay inequality by introducing…

Reform of pay and governance structures matter to all employees. We are pleased to make a joint submission with the CIPD New diet needed for corporate ‘Fat Cats’ – CIPD & High Pay Centre A…

Welcome back to work. FTSE100 bosses will have already clocked up an average annual UK salary by lunchtime today. "Over a thousand pounds an hour..." Fat Cat Wednesday 2017 •       Top bosses will already have…

Backing off from a commitment when the going gets tough makes you more of a David Brent than a Maggie T Consultation is one of the most abused words in management. It means seeking the…

There could not be a better time to discuss corporate governance reform or remember one of the leading proponents of change MONDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2016, 6.30pm The inaugural Bob Gavron Memorial Lecture, given by Simon…

Con Keating, seasoned observer and friend of the High Pay Centre, responds to Chris Philp MP's paper This blog is a response to the High Pay Centre publication “Restoring Responsible Ownership” produced by Chris Philp…

Some timely thoughts from Con Keating Last week, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, the Institute of Business Ethics held an open discussion, with an eminent panel, on the topic: Responsible Capitalism: what does…

The distinguished commentator and analyst Andrew Smithers shares his sceptical thoughts about the UK's post-Brexit prospects. (Hint: productivity...)   The High Pay Centre is pleased to publish this latest essay by the economist Andrew Smithers…

Good as far as it goes, which was not far enough: the Investment Association's executive pay working group report Sensible people, trying their best to do sensible things. That was the impression created by the…

A piece by Stefan Stern in the Financial Times on 21.7.2016 It could be a long, hot summer in the boardroom. Not because of economic or political uncertainty: that is a “known unknown”, for which…

Very few FTSE100 companies pass the "Bechdel" test The Bechdel test takes its name from the author of a comic strip, Alison Bechdel, who in 1985 produced a cartoon in which two female characters discuss…

The UK's income tax regime is not as progressive as you think. By Jolyon Maugham QC This year we’ll collect a little less than £170bn of income tax, roughly a third of all tax receipts.…

Waiting for the Shareholder Rights Directive is a bit like Waiting for Godot It was July 2015 when the plenary session of the European Parliament approved the Commission’s proposal for a revised Shareholder Rights Directive…

A great moment - be part of it The 59% vote against BP's remuneration report is a remarkable and welcome development. Remuneration committees have got to use what is called "discretion", that is, do their…

Contrary to what you may have been told, top pay is still rising fast CEO pay continues to rise. Analysis of disclosures by 71 FTSE 100 companies which have reported on their FYE 2015 reveals…