Do you begrudge high earners?

[cheerscheerscheerstomeyeahcheers]

Do you actually understand what they do and why they earn so much?
Would you be actually willing to put in the time and effort yourself?

I see so much griping about people that earn a lot, but I also see a lot of ignorance about why they earn what they do.

Yes, we'd need brain and body scans before and after each shift.

No I don't. They have proper jobs that I probably wouldn't be capable of.

.but then the mangement can only do so much, it also requires every individuual to be the best in their roles to then improve society as a whole,

you can have the best teacher, ceo, president etc but without each individual also doing their part too then it goes pickles.

I don't begrudge them at all. I am a single parent earning 32k (40k fte) with 2 children in state school. I am not a net contributor to the system, I know that. I claim a small UC top up which pays for my childcare and that's partly due to high earners paying a lot of tax. So I'm grateful.

However I do resent the notion that it's only high earners who have worked hard, because it just isn't true. And many of them are in that position due to various privileges as well as hard work.

but then a good percentage of people could train in some of those high profile roles etc, yes not everyone can and some cannot that i understand

I don't begrude high earners at all. I do begrudge them if they think they're where they are purely on hard work and talent - a lot of succes is thanks to circumstance.

I also begrudge those who try to avoid tax or live irresponsibly high carbon lives just because they can afford to. PJs etc.

A good percentage of people do try to train for these roles. That it is why it is so very competitive and why people who haven’t been to Oxbridge, who don’t have connections in the field for career advice and work experience, or who haven’t the family wealth to support them as they take on expensive postgraduate qualifications and unpaid internships, miss out.
Ability followed by opportunity are the deciding factors here.
(although looking at some of our recent prime ministers, and at presidential candidates over the pond, opportunity seems to have far more to do with it than ability, in politics at least.)

ill agree sometimes its correct timing, situation, moment etc

fair points

Employers pay people a lot because they're difficult to replace, not just because they work hard.

It comes down to skill-set and how uncommon/in demand yours is.

I meant more opportunity thanks to encouraging home environment, well-connected parents etc.

No.

I do slightly begrudge the people I know who have inherited lots of money and have life choices WITHOUT the all-consuming career though.

eg I have a couple of friends asking me about private education, they’ve got their kids down for prep schools etc.

I vastly outearn them and have to work a lot harder (long hours, travel, never switch off etc) - but to commit to £300k+ in education cost is just beyond my comprehension.

I also would say… and happy to be flamed here… I’ve been surprised by what a ‘high income’ actually delivers in terms of lifestyle. £300k a year income would get you a mortgage on an ordinary terrace house where I live. Insane though that is, it has been food for thought!

I don’t begrudge high earners except for those business owners who …
a) squished the ‘little people’ on their way up. Ie minimum wage and poor conditions whilst they drive Porsches or have a helicopter. I personally find the model of ‘I started a business, I took the risk, therefore I pay my staff minimum wage, whilst I take home 300k a year, which I take as dividends so pay x % less tax’ , I don’t begrudge the higher director pay, it is the difference in pay.
b) took advantage of the country during covid - and there are lots and lots of them. From my next door neighbour who took advantage of the low rate business loans to refinance his extension and new car. To those who said their staff were furloughed whilst forcing them to work etc. I was involved in a male brag how much money (as a company director) did you personally make out of covid conversation where one guy I know well claimed he made 250k and was now having a big home extension thanks to it. No conscience at all. Through my work I knew so many companies who took advantage and I hadnt really seen that level of greed and self interest before. I worked for an accountancy firm, so the scale of it really came to light a year later. There were those who absolutely needed the government money and help and there were those who fleeced the country and went part way to causing the col crisis we are in now. For us, my husband and his colleagues weren’t furloughed but were told if they wanted to keep their jobs theywould have to work for 50% of their salary, then 40%. The next year all the directors got a big bonus because they made profit during covid.
…..I think so much of this greed was caused by tax credits taking away from the business owner the responsibility of the welfare of the worker, and for the last 20 years the gap has got wider and wider, despite minimum wage.
Meanwhile - Thank goodness for the great businesses out there who still follow an ethical model. My heart goes out to those business owners keeping their businesses running for the sake of their staff and not even taking minimum wage or taking a low wage themselves. They are unsung heroes.

fair points, those as well

In my experience ((business/finance/consulting/law) it’s your ability to generate revenue.

People earning these big salaries will be paid this much only when they have the ability to bring in lots of work. Stop doing that, they’ll be out.

I also think for most their salary won’t be this much - they might get a £120k salary and £180k in bonus. So it’s very dependent on performance year-to-year.

@ArchaeoSpy I get your point but the reason the high earners earn the big £££ is to try and make it work! I have no doubt that a lot of people deserve their high salary and do a very good job! However, you do hear about CEOs of companies running a company into the ground and taking big bonuses despite this! Or Philip Green and his wife who totally screwed over those that worked for him on the shop floor. I do get your point, they are paid this money for a reason though.

However, do find these sob story posts a bit cringe!

@Annielou67 everything you've said!!!

I agree to an extent, it always amazes me that caring roles are the ones that are minimum wage, yet looking after our most precious things such as children and the elderly.

But without finance, IT etc charities or the nhs etc wouldn't be able to function. I work for a company that supplies survives to customers including the nhs, healthcare and charities. All of which are supplied at a hugely discounted rate. So I think it's a very sweeping statement you've made, as most good companies do the same.

I think many high earners get to where they are because of class, money, parents, schools, opportunities, networks, nepotism and luck!

I don't begrudge those who are talented or work hard to get to where they are, but lots of people work hard but don't start on the same footing. I've seen plenty of people in my company accelerate upwards because of nepotism, are politically savvy or having the ability to say confidently say yes to people that matter. And many others who are promoted to management above their abilities, e.g. highly intelligent and great vision but with terrible people skills and lacking in empathy. These are the ones that irritate me.

It's just luck at the end of the day. Work, effort and reward are unevenly distributed across the system. There are plenty of jobs where you can earn good money not doing very much, and there are plenty of jobs that will work you to the bone for a pittance. Some people get to fail upwards and keep landing ever more expensive gigs. Once your in the C-Suite, it's easy to keep getting paid at that level.

The high earners who still end up paycheck-to-paycheck don't really get my sympathy. They choose to spend to the very edge of their means on private schools, high mortgages, expensive cars, holidays, and then are stressed all the time, juggling the money around. What a way to live!

Dh is a high earner and works so harder, I do know that many wouldn't take on or cope with what he does. So he does deserve his pay check. He has a set of skills that's moved us from country to countries because it's niche and so in demand.

Not read the whole thread.

My answer is NO- but it just depends on their attitude. If they are prepared to pay their fair share of taxes and contribute to society and help support those who need it. If they have empathy and understanding for those who were not so lucky, were never at the right place at the right time for one reason or another.

We need high earners in society to underpin society. But only if they do.

I don't begrudge high earners. A lot of them work hard in very niche fields that are often quite dull - hence the high salary. If they do work in an exciting area and earn well, it's likely because they have exceptional talent as these roles appeal to more people and are more competitive.

But you’re implying that nurses, cleaners, teachers, bin men, farmers, and most everyone else in the country doesn’t work hard.

There are people who earn loads and aren’t working hard. There are people working incredibly hard who earn pennies.

Success is a mix of hard work, luck, being in the right place at the right time, having the right idea, having the right funds to back you at the right time, people skills, drive etc etc etc.

Not just hard work.