Employers have virtually no discretion over granting additional funded benefits in areas such as health care and retirement, and they are usually hemmed in regarding salary or target bonuses, based on internal compensation equity, he says.

FORBES: If You Can't Get More Money, Get More Perks

Similarly, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr, and the lot of owners and player representatives had time well before the beginning of the 2012 season to resolve issues regarding salary allocations and revenue sharing.

FORBES: Fiscal Cliffs, NHL Lockouts, and the Propensity for Last-Minute Negotiations