I think most Americans believe that many chief executives are over paid and receive both retirement and compensation packages which are well outside the guidelines of most who devote the better part of their life to the workplace.

Well, some of those corporate leaders also seem to feel they are overcompensated for the actual work that they do:

Most US corporate leaders believe chief executives are overpaid and do not provide value for money for their com­panies, according to a study that will embolden critics of excessive compensation.

The findings – to be published today by the National Association of Corporate Directors – are likely to strengthen calls by investors and politicians, including George W. Bush, US president, for restraint on executive pay at a time of growing income inequality in the US.

Top executives’ criticism of their peers’ compensation levels could also encourage activist investors and hedge funds to target underperforming companies with highly-paid leaders at shareholder meetings.

Four out of six chief executives or company presidents polled by the NACD in July and August said the compensation of top executives was high relative to their performance.

Only 2.2 per cent of the nearly 70 chief executives and presidents involved in the survey said compensation was too low, while a third deemed it “just right”.

Their views were backed up by outside directors, with more than 80 per cent of them saying chief executives were overpaid.

Given all of the corporate scandals over the past few years and the difficulties faced by major companies such as Mattel as of late, one would think shareholders would be very wary of the quality of those at the helm of major US companies.

Will this “talk” lead to reform on any level, that remains to be seen. I would like to believe that some of these CEO’s etc. would agree to pay cuts so the money could be filtered down to those who actually keep the company afloat..the average 8-5 worker.

Whether this is accomplished via pay increases, better benefits packages or increased 401k contributions could be discussed and debated, but those moves could certainly help create a better motivated and content workforce.