system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is BP increasing its exec's pay when they have falling profits/incoming fines?

Is it because they need to retain talent/show they are willing to retain talent through generous compensation following a slew of negative events?
gpt
Just because you are operating at a huge loss does not mean they are doing a bad job.

Oil prices and backlash from the recent spill both have tremendous effects on their bottom line. The execs could very well have changed a ten billion loss into a one billion loss, which means they could have done an excellent job despite operating at a loss.

At the same time, there is also the fact that they determine their own pay, and tend to get as high an increase as they can get away with, so greed could just as well be a huge factor.