There's a free market in the US, isn't it? Some would say, don't blame execs, they are products of the market, not the reason for it.
How many of HN readers would refuse some large bonus?
How many of HN readers would refuse some large bonus?
Emergencies do not really have an alternative though, for obvious reasons.
No, there is not.
What society can do is organize into unions and push back, so when they lay off nurses while taking bonuses, the remaining nurses go too and the business goes out of business. If that's the consequence of laying people off, instead of remaining people being unhappy being underpaid for 20 hour shifts, then the company will either use the bonus money for employees, or close down.