Executive compensation

Effect of tariffs on incentive plans at US public companies

Mercer’s 2025/2026 Year End Executive Incentive & Benefits Survey asked publicly-traded organizations throughout the United States how they will handle the impact of tariffs on their executive incentive plans.

A small minority of companies surveyed allowed for tariff adjustments in 2025 incentive plan payouts.

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Of those organizations, the majority will use committee discretion to adjust results.

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Executive pay levels and pay programs are continuously under scrutiny by shareholders of publicly-traded companies.

Mercer has Executive Compensation specialists that advise clients in the United States, Canada, and dozens of other markets globally. We help clients develop the right compensation structures for their executives using a market-informed, individually-tailored approach.

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Effect of tariffs on incentive plans at US public companies

Mercer’s 2025/2026 Year End Executive Incentive & Benefits Survey asked publicly-traded organizations throughout the United States how they will handle the impact of tariffs on their executive incentive plans.

A small minority of companies surveyed allowed for tariff adjustments in 2025 incentive plan payouts.

Of those organizations, the majority will use committee discretion to adjust results.

Executive pay levels and pay programs are continuously under scrutiny by shareholders of publicly-traded companies.

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