Sinclair announces bonuses for employees after passage of GOP tax bill

[DonViejo]

BY BRANDON CARTER - 12/22/17 10:13 AM EST

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Friday it would pay a $1,000 bonus to almost 9,000 of its full-time and part-time employees after the recent passage of the GOP tax bill.

The broadcast giant, which is awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its proposed $3.9 billion purchase of Tribune Media, said in a statement it was “grateful for the passage of the bill.

“We recognize that our employees are our most valuable resource, truly appreciate their combined achievements for our Company and look forward to a very bright future,” Sinclair President and CEO Chris Ripley said in a statement.

Sinclair's proposed purchase of Tribune would mean its programming could be accessed by 72 percent of U.S. households. The deal has come under scrutiny from Democrats, who say the merger would reduce competition in local television markets.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/366161-sinclair-announces-bonuses-for-employees-after-passage-of-gop-tax-bill

[member12]

1. They'd never give bonuses if they didn't need to bribe their employees

They are bribing their workers and the Trump administration. They'd never do this if they couldn't exploit it for political gain.

[underpants]

2. Pure PR. Will that $1,000 cover increases in healthcare premiums?

[GreenEyedLefty]

3. Discretionary bonuses are deductible for employers; taxable to employees

This gets lost oftentimes... yes it is an act of largesse on the one hand but also a canny business decision if companies are making a profit.

Employees get taxed at the marginal rate which is about 40%. So those $1000 bonuses end up being $600. About $50 a month; a bit over $12 a week; or $0.30 an hour.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Corporate media is kissing the ring, orgasmic over more money and more profits. All BS

and propaganda.

Sinclair is the mother lode of hate radio and TV, beloved of RW politicians everywhere.

[MissB]

5. Tis the season for bonuses

When I worked in the private sector, I’d always get bonuses right before Christmas.

My DH has worked for the same company for 30+ years. They’ve always awarded bonuses in early February. This year- since they are merging-!the bonuses were to be awarded this December. I think they’ll actually be awarded on January 2. Has nothing to do with the Great Tax Scam of 2017. It has everything to do with keeping the employees happy in the midst of a merger.

I’m am unsurprised and unimpressed to hear that companies are awarding bonuses at this time of the year.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Guy I Know Who Works For Comcast. . .

. . .says they get them too. They're getting $1k this year, and that's more than normal, but it's not an EXTRA thousand. It's just an incremental add TO a thousand.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Cheapskates

For a company that just made a gigantic windfall profit through
Trump's corrupt taxscam, that's a pretty measly bonus.
Typical Republican a-holes treating their employees like dirt
and expect to be thanked for it. Tiny Tim would spit.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Sinclair is a big part of the Propaganda Dept of the RepubliCON machine. . . . . nt

[ismnotwasm]

9. How about free day care and medical?

That would be impressive