2011-2013 i worked contracts as a travel ER RN for a company called HCA. they are one of the largest hospital management companies in the nation. i worked a couple of their hospitals in austin tx and denver co. very large very busy inner-city ERs. the permanent fulltime staff had had no raises in a couple years, due to what they were told was "the economy." being a traveler, i didn't have to attend their meetings, but happened into one as i'd gotten to work early one day and heard their manager give the "no raise this year either" speech as she told them "because the economy" and i felt it was time to say something to these poor understaffed overworked people. i interjected into the meeting that the HCA CEO just had a 40+ million dollar bonus...not including his multimillion dollar salary.
