How much more should the best paid earn than the poorest paid?

Impossible question to answer but it's a seriously ****ed up world that allows a useless get like Falcao to get paid more in a week than a brain surgeon earns a year.

 

I've always felt that it would be fair for the top person in a company / organisation to earn ten times what the lowest paid worker gets (pro rata).

 

What a pointless thread. I'm ashamed I've posted this response.

 

Re: Difficult question

Which Nurse earns that amount ? £40K !!!

 

People are paid on the level of what society is willing to pay - its not really related to what they are worth to society.

For example - a doctor is worth a lot to society - but society is willing to pay a footballer 20x more than the doctor because the skill of that particular footballer is much more difficult to find than the skill of the doctor

 

Too reight Nudge.

Diagnosing illnesses - piece of piss.

Kicking a football - nigh on impossible.

 

Tellingly there are many, many mediocre footballers earning more than doctors...funny old world innit.

 

The argument against equal pay has always been that money incentivises people. Take away the big pay packet and there is no motivation for people study or train as there will be no rewards for doing so.

I'm not sure how true that always is. I would have worked in television for free. If you enjoy your job, the money is not the motivating factor.

The trouble is many people do not enjoy their job. That is true of some high paid positions as well a low paid jobs. Would people attempt to climb the ladder, take on more work, more responsibility and more stress if there was no financial incentive and it wasn't a particularly enjoyable role? Probably not. However, the way to counter that is you don't heap so much responsibility on one person. If you're not paying a manager big bucks, you can afford to employ more people to share the load. You get fewer overworked and unhappy people, and more employment. 4 headteachers instead of one, all paid the same as the teachers, the support staff and the cleaners. Why would someone train to be a teacher when they could earn the same money being a cleaner? Because, for some people, teaching children is far more enjoyable than cleaning floors.

The work in a hospital is a good example of this. Who is more important, the surgeon or the cleaner? Well, if the surgeon doesn't perform the operation, the patient will die. However, if the cleaner does not do their job, the hospital will be dirty, the patient would contract an infection and die. Who is more important, a director or a nurse? If the nurse does not attend to the patient after the operation, the patient will die. If the director does not organise his team so the correct drugs are available, the right equipment is ordered, the right staff are employed and available, then the patient will die. Who is most important and who should be paid the most?

Why would anyone train to be a surgeon if they could get the same money being a cleaner? Because, for some people, operating on patients is far more interesting and rewarding than cleaning floors. Why would anyone put themselves forward for promotion to the level of director if they can get the same money as a cleaner? Because, for some people, taking on more responsibility, organising others and wearing a suit is far more enjoyable than cleaning floors.

Pay everyone the same.

I've seen Swiss cheese with fewer holes in it. Feel free to pick some more.

 

Bit unfair that, but funny as ****.

 

Erm. I'm guessing the surgeon could be trained to do the cleaner's job in a few days?

 

Certainly could, what's your point?

 

No idea...What the **** was yours?

 

That even though the role of surgeon requires far more training and is far more complex, the role of a cleaner is just as important because without either one, the patient dies. Therefore, pay them the same. We have this idea that we should financially reward people whose jobs are more complex and require more training. I'm stating that shouldn't be the case. You'll get just as many people wanting to be surgeons because people do it for the love of the job. You take away all the huge salaries and everyone can get a very decent living wage.

It can't happen, it won't happen and it's flawed anyway, but it'd be nice.

 

Well, I'm a socialist...but sorry that's just daft...with respect...

 

Like I said, it can't work, but I'd be interested to know why you think it's daft?

 

As you state, it couldn't possibly work.

 

I get that, but say we nationalised all businesses from a corner shop and a white van man to Tescos and Virgin. Why is the idea in itself daft?

Not having a go, just interested in your take on it.

 

All for the above...but there has to incentive...we'd never progress. You have to reward people who are capable of improving lives of the masses. The tricky question is by how much, and capitalism rewards it far to unfairly...but there have to be rewards.

 

I'm not sure there does.

I'm don't know what you do, but let's say you're an engineer. You use lathes and other heavy machinery to make components. It's not a production line, you're responsible for each component from start to finish. It's varied work as the company you work for supply dozens of other companies. So, you're constantly having to calibrate your equipment and you're continually making different items. Sometimes it can get a bit boring, but on the whole you enjoy it. You required a good deal of training to get where you are, both on the job and at college and you were paid to do both.

Working in this company is a full time cleaner, getting rid of all the turnings and waste you produce. He didn't do any training, he could pretty much get on top of what was required in a couple of days. It's quite hard work what he does and very boring. However, he gets paid exactly the same as you. Would you rather do his job? Don't bother going to college and having that experience, don't bother learning the skills required to use the machines, just sweep up, all day, every day for the rest of your life. You'll get the same money doing that, but wouldn't you rather be doing something you enjoy?

 

Erm yes. Indeed. Or Summat. Ive not posted for a while but **** me.