What is a fair profit for an NFL owner?

[Tony Oday]

It is EASY to replace the current players, there are thousands every year that dont get drafted and are working at grocery stores and fast food chains. The NFL would suffer 2 years until all the players would fall into line.

I have a homework assignment for everyone that works for a privately owned company. Go to your owner and ask to see their books. They will say "go F*ck yourself" in a more polite way. I would say that to my employees it doesn't matter how much I make because I took the risk and opened my own business.

[ThunderDan]

It is EASY to replace the current players, there are thousands every year that dont get drafted and are working at grocery stores and fast food chains. The NFL would suffer 2 years until all the players would fall into line.

I have a homework assignment for everyone that works for a privately owned company. Go to your owner and ask to see their books. They will say "go F*ck yourself" in a more polite way. I would say that to my employees it doesn't matter how much I make because I took the risk and opened my own business.

The last 2 companies that I have worked for have all had an open books policy. Not only would the owner say please go ahead and look, they would be happy to review the numbers with you.

Now you tie the employees performance and bonuses to the open books policy and you have a hell of a lot of motivated employees who drive the bottom line of your company. We have continuously had 15-20% annual growth. We probably will hit 30% this year.

[retailguy]

The last 2 companies that I have worked for have all had an open books policy. Not only would the owner say please go ahead and look, they would be happy to review the numbers with you.

Now you tie the employees performance and bonuses to the open books policy and you have a hell of a lot of motivated employees who drive the bottom line of your company. We have continuously had 15-20% annual growth. We probably will hit 30% this year.

Are you represented by a union?

[bobblehead]

The last 2 companies that I have worked for have all had an open books policy. Not only would the owner say please go ahead and look, they would be happy to review the numbers with you.

Now you tie the employees performance and bonuses to the open books policy and you have a hell of a lot of motivated employees who drive the bottom line of your company. We have continuously had 15-20% annual growth. We probably will hit 30% this year.

Although my work in the private sector is limited, I have NEVER heard of any privatly held company doing this. Not doubting you, just saying you have been very lucky if such is the case.

[retailguy]

Although my work in the private sector is limited, I have NEVER heard of any privatly held company doing this. Not doubting you, just saying you have been very lucky if such is the case.

Actually, it happens occasionally in certain situations. Typically, it's very small single owner firms where there is a culture of trust as a part of the firm. Dan's right, it can be a great motivator in the right situation. I've never seen nor heard of this in a union shop, and certainly not to the scale of the NFL. Unions naturally breed distrust (IMO), and gain leverage by pitting one group against the other by focusing on differences. Honestly, if everyone lives in happy trusting harmony where everyone treats everyone else with respect and fairness, there is no reason for a union! It would be unnecessary.

[Guiness]

Actually, it happens occasionally in certain situations. Typically, it's very small single owner firms where there is a culture of trust as a part of the firm. Dan's right, it can be a great motivator in the right situation. I've never seen nor heard of this in a union shop, and certainly not to the scale of the NFL. Unions naturally breed distrust (IMO), and gain leverage by pitting one group against the other by focusing on differences. Honestly, if everyone lives in happy trusting harmony where everyone treats everyone else with respect and fairness, there is no reason for a union! It would be unnecessary.

Yes, that's been my experience as well, but with a partnership. I think that has something to do with it, because you're already sharing the data with someone.

Can't see that happening with a union...

[Guiness]

Although my work in the private sector is limited, I have NEVER heard of any privatly held company doing this. Not doubting you, just saying you have been very lucky if such is the case.

It happens. I was going post my own experiences in my previous post - decided not to, but I think it relates.

Company I work for ran into some tough times a few years ago. Contracts dried up (not the company's fault - industry pretty much shut down) and things were tight. The employees kicked in some funds to keep it afloat, and took voluntary pay cuts. I took a voluntary lay-off.

Owners (there are two of them) were very open about the finances, the company's position, and how we were progressing. Frequent updates showing profits and losses. We're back on our feet now, actually doing very well, and we still have meeting quartely or so showing a lot of financial information. I work as a contractor now, and I am generally shown a copy of the PO from the company my services are for, so I know what percentage of the day rate I'm taking home.

[bobblehead]

It happens. I was going post my own experiences in my previous post - decided not to, but I think it relates.

Company I work for ran into some tough times a few years ago. Contracts dried up (not the company's fault - industry pretty much shut down) and things were tight. The employees kicked in some funds to keep it afloat, and took voluntary pay cuts. I took a voluntary lay-off.

Owners (there are two of them) were very open about the finances, the company's position, and how we were progressing. Frequent updates showing profits and losses. We're back on our feet now, actually doing very well, and we still have meeting quartely or so showing a lot of financial information. I work as a contractor now, and I am generally shown a copy of the PO from the company my services are for, so I know what percentage of the day rate I'm taking home.

Well, this and RG's post reaffirms my position that individual owners (small business) make better bosses than corporate people. Individuals tend to view the people that help them get rich in a more favorable light than corporate lackeys do.