It looks (to me) like they're saying that the margin (amount that firms can charge clients less the cost of the employee's compensation package) is what's at st

It looks (to me) like they're saying that the margin (amount that firms can charge clients less the cost of the employee's compensation package) is what's at stake. As employees rise up the corporate ladder, their compensation packages increase, but the amount that the company can charge for that employee's work is limited (clients will be wanting to keep a certain margin for themselves too)