Originally Posted by SharpestTool

Profit sharing. Profit sharing is at risk compensation. Profit sharing always originates from a weak bargaining position and represents a hedge. Ours originated post-bankruptcy. As it was initially envisioned it was a bargain for management and a hedge for us against runaway profitability. Initially it was a liability to us in comparison to a fixed and known pay increase, and an asset to the company. Success has changed that equation around and currently it is a huge asset to us and a liability for the company. The key point here is that there is a cycle where profit sharing can work for us or against us. It isn't a linear process. The time to capture value (de-risk) from profit sharing is when it most hurts the company to maintain it. The time to capture value is at or nearing the peak of the business cycle. Too many see no risk in profit sharing at this point. History does not support that view. We are closer to the end of the business cycle than the beginning.

So, monetizing profit sharing is a smart hedge play. This time hedging against a drop off in profitability. What percentage and for how much? Again, I do not like risk. If it were just me, I would trade all of it for a 16% increase to our book pay rates. But, I realize others have a higher appetite for risk than I do. I would be open to monetize 50% and retain the other half as a further upside hedge. I think we have an excellent case to sell it back to the company at last year's going rate or our projected rate for this year, whichever is greater. So lets say for know 8% of our current pay rates.

Bottom line: profit sharing entails risk and anyone who doesn't account for that is selling sunshine.