Roger Clemens and "star" employees

johnnyBravo

What do you all think of Roger Clemens'  sweet deal with the Yankees, where he makes $28 million in one year--reportedly the highest single-season salary ever paid to a major-league player--and gets special treatment on top of it?  His contract apparently allows him to leave the team and go home to his family in Houston when he is not pitching.  This isn't the first time he has gotten preferential treatment--when he was with the Houston Astros, he didn't have to travel with the team on the road. But these are the Yankees, who, until now, had a reputation for not letting players bend the rules or get special treatment. Defenders of the move say that desperate times (the Yankees are having trouble with pitching) call for desperate measures and they think Clemens can save their season and help them win a championship...

Just wondering if anyone has ever had a similar experience in the workplace--ever had an employee who was considered such a star that he or she got special treatment?  And what was the impact on co-workers?

SFbay

I have seen companies get in trouble for treating a 'star' differently.  This comes up in discrimination cases because some companies look the other way if the star brings in a lot of money.

fisHRman

While such a Clemensian arrangement may be good for both the "star" employee and the company, it usually creates ill will and resentment among the other "workers." 

Of course, these Steinbrenner "employees" all have agents, contracts, as well as an active union.

While Clemens'  flexible schedule is certainly "family-friendly," if it isn't offered to all, then it certainly is another resentment generator.