Linkedin Ceo Jeff Weiner Gives His 14 Million Stock Bonus Back To Employees

LinkedIn has had a rough time lately, after a disappointing earnings report last month caused the company’s stock to drop more than 40% of its value, from $192 down to its lowest point of late, at $108. The stock then went on to recoup a little bit of its value, but spirits at the company are said to be low, which is one reason Weiner decided to bounce the entirety of his $14 million stock bonus back to the people working under him at LinkedIn. And this wasn’t some PR move either (or, if it is, it’s a pretty subtle one), since it took a financial reporter at Re/code to even notice that LinkedIn’s CEO neglected to file a compensation form with the SEC for himself, a requisite to any such stock bonus. Later, a representative for the company confirmed that instead of taking the money and running, Weiner made a commendable call: The move is reported to be the first time Weiner has given up his stock options in such a fashion, but it’s the latest in several attempts by Weiner to keep his employees’ morale up after such bad financial news for the company. Here’s an excerpt from a statement made by Weiner himself at a recent company meeting regarding LinkedIn’s sinking stock prices: