Just like the good ol office space quote, to me this is about incentive. I have PTSD from my combat time in the Corps, and when I got out I determined to never

Just like the good ol office space quote, to me this is about incentive. I have PTSD from my combat time in the Corps, and when I got out I determined to never work so hard for so little ever again. I have since been a part of 3 startups (current employer included), and I continually see the issue where C levels like to do C level things and offer little to no incentive for actual productive employee's to continue to be so. I think there is a miscommunication in the American social business contract that is more exaggerated these days and that is where these problems start. It goes like this: C-Guy: I work 80 hours a week, and have for X years.. (implying worker A should too) Worker A: I get paid salary, and no matter how hard I work I don't get anything other than state-mandated overtime pay. C-Guy: Well if you worked harder and produced more value to company you might get a bonus or incentive Y. (This is where the misunderstanding comes into play) Worker A: I'm not going to kill myself on verbal half-assed promises of maybe bonuses. Honestly I'm getting underpaid as it is (startup culture ftl) and my time is worth more than you are paying me. The problem is the idea of vague half promised incentives that aren't on paper and aren't easily legally enforceable. Hence, and entire section of the work force who might be able to do great things doesn't. I forgot the other jab the C-level gives: C-Level: We are working to benefit humanity and doing great work! Isn't that incentive enough?