[danieltillett]

There is an effective upper limit on what you can be paid because of peer issues (companies can't always pay what they should to a high performer because of the effect on other employees), but there is no upper limit to the value you can provide to a company. This can create the situation where an employee is paid the most possible, but they are contributing far more value than they cost. These are the sort of employees that employers will move heaven and earth to retain in any layoff scenario.