In the world of business, few things captivate attention like the scandal surrounding the firing (or leaving) of a high-profile CEO. On Monday, Kroger’s CEO, Rodney McMullen, was dismissed for cause, and as expected, the media exploded with coverage. Stories of McMullen’s personal failings and corporate drama poured in, each headline adding fuel to the fire. But beyond the salacious gossip and personal allegations, there lies a much deeper story—one about the growing wealth inequality, the unchecked corporate greed, and the environmental toll these systems exact.
Hypothesis: McMullen’s downfall is not just an isolated incident—it is a symptom of a broader, unsustainable corporate culture that prioritizes short-term profits over long-term sustainability, both for the environment and society at large.
And this is where MySayOnPay.com comes in. The platform provides journalists with data that can shift the narrative. By offering access to vital financial information, such as CEO compensation comparisons and broader wealth inequality trends, MySayOnPay.com allows reporters to highlight how McMullen’s enormous wealth came at the expense of workers and the planet.
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Michael Cooper, the founder of MySayOnPay, and a personal friend of mine, has long argued that “the unchecked pursuit of wealth by the few at the expense of the many isn’t just bad for society, it’s unsustainable. For every dollar that a CEO makes beyond reason, there’s a broader environmental and social toll.” This statement is key to understanding why McMullen’s story is not just about one man’s rise and fall but about the systemic flaws within corporate America that encourage unsustainable practices and exacerbate wealth inequality. (Read here where Cooper guest authors the article – How to create a 100 year old company).
The Systematic Culture of Excess
McMullen’s compensation package, a staggering $15.7 million per year, places him in a category of corporate elites whose wealth is vastly disproportionate to the average worker, says Cooper. And yet, despite this eye-watering salary, his story is far from unique. A look at McMullen’s pay compared to other CEOs in similar positions reveals a troubling trend: the top executives benchmark themselves against their peers and cause dramatic wage inflation among themselves. Imagine if every time one cashier gets bonus pay, perhaps from working overtime, all the other cashiers who don’t perform long hours get benchmarked to the high performer and pay gets increased.
The disparity is even starker when compared to the wages of workers on the front lines—cashiers, stockers, and others who make up the backbone of companies like Kroge, Cooper explains to Green Prophet.
Graph 2 & 3: Kroger CEO Compensation vs. Average Stock-based Compensation on a per employee basis
Notice the tiny amount that is average compensation per employee when we consider the welfare of all the employees. Typically, total stock-based compensation is not distributed evenly so most of the employees receive nothing and a small group at the top distribute the spoils among themselves.
These figures are not just numbers—they represent a culture of greed and excess. McMullen’s story isn’t just about personal greed; it’s about how a system is designed to reward excess at the top while leaving little for those who actually power the business. This imbalance fuels inequality, both in terms of income and opportunity, but it also contributes to a greater societal and environmental cost.
As Cooper points out, “This unchecked system cannot be sustained indefinitely. Every time a CEO takes home a bonus that exceeds reason, we’re investing in a future where the environment, the workers, and the broader social fabric pay the price.”
The Environmental Toll: The Cost of Corporate Excess
The true cost of this culture is not just economic—it’s environmental. The corporate world, with its relentless focus on profits and short-term gains, has created a model that exploits natural resources, fosters waste, and accelerates climate change. Companies like Kroger, though lauded for their profits, often operate under business models that don’t account for the environmental damage they cause. The packaging waste, supply chain emissions, and unsustainable sourcing practices are all byproducts of a corporate mindset that prioritizes profit over sustainability.
McMullen’s compensation, which peaked in 2020 as Kroger generated depressed profits, and customers endured both unstocked shelves and rampant food inflation, is a direct reflection of a system that rewards the CEO in spite of performance. But as the planet faces the consequences of unrestrained consumerism, it becomes clear that these practices cannot continue.
Cooper’s words ring true here: “The reality is that we can no longer afford to pursue profits without considering the environmental consequences. Sustainability must be at the heart of the corporate model, or we risk a future of social instability and environmental collapse.”
The Personal and the Systemic
As McMullen’s career came to a crashing halt, many journalists focused on the salacious details of his personal life. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that McMullen’s personal failings are but one part of a larger narrative about corporate culture. While it’s easy to point fingers at individuals, the systemic issue is far more troubling: A corporate world where greed is not only tolerated but celebrated, where CEOs can amass obscene wealth while their workers struggle to get by.
This is where MySayOnPay.com offers something essential: A way to link these individual stories of scandal with the broader issues of economic inequality and environmental harm. Journalists now have the tools to tell a story that isn’t just about McMullen’s fall from grace—but about how corporate greed and the pursuit of wealth have far-reaching consequences that affect us all.
The unraveling of McMullen’s story is an opportunity to begin a much-needed conversation about how we can build a more equitable and sustainable future for all. It’s a chance to reimagine the way we define success, power, and wealth in a world where the consequences of inequality and environmental damage are no longer ignorable.
As MySayOnPay.com continues to equip journalists with the tools to tell this story, one can hope that McMullen’s fall will not just be remembered as a corporate scandal—but as a turning point in the fight for a more just and sustainable world.
