Sometimes you can’t say it better than someone else. These are posts from an article in the NY Times Dealbook blog called On Bonuses, Banks face a Balancing Act. Please read the rest of them since they are a great cross section of how to view compensation awards.
Bonuses, Wall St, and Main St
By:
Posted in:
Working Thoughts 
2007
12:47 pm
The
modus operandi of the Wall St. bonus system makes me want to puke. Off
Wall St., most bonus level employees accept the fact that there will be
bad years and definitely aren’t prone “bolting”. So many spoiled brats
on Wall St.
— Posted by Ellis Smythe
2007
1:15 pm
Ellis,
Until you have missed your son’s birthday party, canceled a family
vacation, worked back-to-back-to-back consecutive weekends or been so
preoccupied with work at dinner you can’t listen to what anyone is
saying, shut your mouth.
— Posted by Brendan
2007
1:49 pm
The
difference between Off Wall St. bonus employees and On Wall St., is
that Wall Streeters have greener pastures to “bolt” to across the
street. Thus, companies are willing to bend more to keep people from
jumping ship or a shop a subway ride or two floors below.
— Posted by John Galt
2007
4:09 pm
Brendan, a bit too harsh if you consider many entrepreneurs can say the same things (both in the good times and the bad . . .).
Although I think your sentiment is dead on, and too often missed by
some posters on this board, that the bonus-level employees on Wall
Street have a work ethic and a work culture that is more demanding than
90% of the jobs in existence. Most people do not understand this, and
in many instances are overcome with the “why do they get paid so much
if [insert generic argument here]”
The balance between keeping employees from bolting and a
salary/bonus structure that rewards/punishes good/bad performance on
Wall Street is one that hasn’t necessarily been perfected as of yet . .
.
— Posted by Derek