Can the SEC Claw Back My Bonus?
If you are an executive at a public company and your employer has clawed back your bonus, you may be wondering if the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has the authority to demand such action. This article provides an overview of the SEC’s bonus clawback authority and how it may affect you.
What is a Bonus Clawback?
A clawback is when a company tries to recover compensation that has already been paid to an employee. Sometimes, bonuses are paid even though the employee is not entitled to them. Other times, the bonus is paid for services not rendered, or when the company later discovers that the employee engaged in misconduct. In these cases, the company may try to claw back the bonus. SEC bonus claw backs are governed by Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) and SEC Rule 10D-1.







