CA16-2 (Ethical issues—compensation plan) The executive officers of Coach Corp have a performance-based compensation plan. The performance criteria of this plan is linked to growth in earnings per share. When annual EPS growth is 12%, the Coach executives earn 100% of the shares; ifgrowth is 16%, they earn 125%. If EPS growth is lower than 8%, the executives receive no additonal compensation.
In 2006, Joanna Becker, the controller of Coach, reviews year-end estimates of bad debt expense and warranty expense. She calculates the EPS growth at 15%. Peter Reiser, a member of the executive group, remarks over lunch one day that the estimate of bad debt expense might be decreased, increasing EPS growth to 16.1%. Becker is not sure she should do this because she believes that the current estimate of bad debts is sound. On the other hand, she recognizes that a great deal of subjectivity is involved in the computation.
Answer the following:
a) What, if any, is the ethical dilemma for Becker?
b) Should Becker's knowledge of the compensation plan be a factor that influences her estimate?
c) How should Becker respond to Reiser's request?
Click here for the solution: The executive officers of Coach Corp have a performance-based compensation plan
