ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A majority of people in a survey said bonuses paid out by struggling U.S financial institutions should be redistributed to shareholders.
The Harris Poll said in a news release Thursday that 83 percent of the 1,010 adults who participated in a recent telephone poll said those Wall Street institutions that lost money last year should hand over bonuses to their shareholders.
The survey found that 78 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "Wall Street firms should only pay bonuses when they are doing well and making good profits."
In comparison, 22 percent of total respondents backed the opposing statement of "in order to attract and retain top talent, these companies need to pay these large bonuses."
The Harris Poll said 87 percent of all respondents supported tougher regulation of Wall Street activities in the wake of last year's significant losses by U.S. financial groups.
The survey was conducted Feb. 10-15 and contained no reported margin of error.
