Lunchtime Links: Proof that Google pays very well indeed

Last time we mentioned Google, it was in the context of a previous employee complaining about working there. More promisingly, therefore, we'd like to counterbalance that by pointing out that Google pays very well.

Research published in the Guardian last week, suggests the median salary for Google's employees globally is now $141k (86.8k).

Needless to say, banks appear to pay better.

However, banks' average pay figures (eg. $418k per person at Goldman Sachs last year) are always based on mean averages and don't reflect the fact that compensation is heavily skewed towards a few high earners. Median compensation in banking therefore tends to be a lot lower: our most recent salary survey suggested that the median bonus after 15 years in financial services was just 15k.

We don't have mean compensation per head figures for Google. However, with the median comparatively high, it's tempting to think that Google pays well and distributes its compensation more equably than banks. The Guardian points out that everyone there got a 10% pay rise and a $1k tax-free bonus in March.

Actually, UK banks are meeting Merlin lending targets so there shouldn't be a new bonus tax. (Financial Times)

Bank of America's closing its bond prop desk and getting rid of 15 traders. (USA Market News)

Josef Ackermann enjoys simple pleasures and comes across as soft-spoken and almost a bit shy. (NY Times)

Goldman isn't taking any short-term actions to adjust headcount, Goldman's David Viniar told Susquehanna analyst David Hilder. (WSJ)

There's been a spurt of job changes among senior investment bankers in India. (WSJ)

Actually, Lloyds is cutting 15,000 jobs - especially outside the UK. (Sunday Times)

Can the coalition revive the regions while the City still dominates the economy? (Guardian)

Deutsche Bank analysts have been wearing golf shirts to irk their boss. (CNBC)

Bilingual brains are more healthy. (Guardian)

"You get rich through luck, you get rich through crime, you get rich through fulfilling the needs of another. If you can't do one of those three things, you 'ain't going to get any money." (Financial Times)

How to make your point in meetings. (Inception)