Bearing the Burdens of Decisions Made by Others: The Corporate Reallocation of Employee Risk in the United States

Perspektiven der Corporate Governance, December 2006

25 Pages Posted: 3 Aug 2006

See all articles by Matthew Finkin

Matthew Finkin

University of Illinois College of Law

Abstract

In conjunction with this collection of papers on corporate governance the author was asked to assess the role of employee representation in corporate decisions to abrogate or reduce pension and medical benefits in the United States. The paper details the rise of the "social contract" from the end of World War II to its transfiguration today - the shift from defined benefits to defined contribution pension plans and the shift of the increasing cost of medical benefits on to employees. It discusses the role of unions and stresses the near total absence of voice in non-unionized enterprises.

Suggested Citation

Finkin, Matthew W., Bearing the Burdens of Decisions Made by Others: The Corporate Reallocation of Employee Risk in the United States. Perspektiven der Corporate Governance, December 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=921382

Matthew W. Finkin (Contact Author)

University of Illinois College of Law ( email )

504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

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