Colborn's Corner: A change of culture?

Some people may have given a wry smile at the thought of many financial services workers losing their reputedly high bonus payments, with a perception in the media that the 'fat cats deserved it'. But is this fair? Are we adding to the hysteria? Quentin Colborn examines the issues of bonuses and the much larger issue of share ownership by employees.

If the tabloid headlines and comments were anything to go by, there is little sympathy for what have been portrayed as the overpaid banking executives in our midst. When staff from Lehman Bothers were out of a job with no notice there were few tears shed.