Controversies are arising from ballooning executive compensation packages are popping up from Texas to Seoul. CEOs are pulling down hundreds or millions in bonuses while their companies' stock prices tumble, workers get laid off, and pension plans get slashed.
The Federal National Mortgage Association (AKA Fannie Mae) is a public company operating under federal charter and is the US's primary source for mortgage funding, financing one of every five home loans. Fannie Mae buys mortgages from lenders and resells them, transferring risk from lenders and allowing them to offer mortgages to those who may not otherwise qualify. The company was hit hard by the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 and had to be rescued by the Federal Reserve.
Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the employment services industry; they oversee the entire process of recruitment from selection to training to outplacement. Operating in nearly 78 countries around the world, primarily the third world and developing nations, Manpower effectively replaces the responsibility of companies or corporations to find, profile and train employees.
Accenture Ltd. is the largest consulting firm in the world, incorporated in Bermuda with its main U.S. office in Chicago, Illinois. It has made the outsourcing of jobs into big business.
The company was established as the consulting wing of Arthur Andersen, Andersen Consulting, splitting off in 2000, when it changed its name to Accenture.
Delphi primarily makes various automobile parts. The company's technology is also sold for computing, communications, consumer electronics, energy and medical applications. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005 and soon thereafter began operating as "debtors-in-possession" under court supervision, with the expectation of emerging from bankruptcy sometime in 2008. The company is a former division of General Motors (GM), separated in 1999.
Prudential Financial, Inc. is a financial services company. As of February, 2008, the Company had approximately $784 billion of assets under management. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, the Company offers an array of financial products and services, including life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, pension and retirement-related services and administration, asset management, banking and trust services, real estate brokerage and relocation services, and, through a joint venture, retail securities brokerage services.
American Apparel is a clothing company with the assurance of “sweatshop-free” clothing. It was started by a young entrepreneur Dov Charney with the hopes of attracting a market base of young, hip urbanites with a mind towards labor rights and ethical business practices. American Apparel now has stores in L.A., New York, and Chicago, among other locations, with 4,500 employees that receive living wages and benefits.
Halliburton is a leader in the oil services industry -- i.e. provides engineering and construction services for oil extraction and development. After separating from Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR) in 2007, it is no longer in the business of providing military logistics support.
