Bizarre that in many organizations these "people with nothing to do" as we used to call them get paid top dollars while those doing the real work - like assembling products or caring for patients - get paid relative peanuts......
My favorite comment was that big paychecks make it more likely they'll check out because they can't afford to quit and do something they like.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
But my question is this:
If lower level employees think they get paid peanuts, they have options. Leaving is simply an option people don't like to consider because it involves change.
Notice to any company that is paying its CEO $20 mil or more per year: I'll do a better job for $500k, and if I don't, you don't have to pay me.