Using the public release of comment letters on EDGAR to capture a regime shift toward regulatory transparency, we examine whether an increase in transparency affects regulators’ effort and work performance. We find that the SEC staff reviews more filings and more documents per filing following the disclosure regime shift. These effects are incrementally stronger for firms with comment letters that are expected to attract greater investor or public monitoring. Furthermore, under the new regime, reviews are more timely. Upon the regime switch, the likelihood of a restatement (receiving a comment letter) decreases (increases) for filings that are reviewed. After receiving a comment letter, a firm with signs of potential fraud is more likely to be investigated, and this effect becomes more pronounced under the new regime. Altogether, our findings suggest that publicly disclosing regulators’ work output can mitigate moral hazard (i.e., increase regulators’ work input), improving their work performance.

We investigate whether meeting Wall Street’s expectations affects rank-and-file employees’ satisfaction. Controlling for firms’ underlying financial performance, we find that those currently working for firms that meet or marginally beat analysts’ forecasts experience increased job satisfaction. This positive effect is concentrated among employees who are less transient, receive more nonexecutive stock options, or are more unionized. Furthermore, the positive effect exists only when employees do not incur higher costs associated with reaching the threshold because they overwork, suffer from labor law violations, or experience layoffs. Lastly, more senior or highly skilled employees respond more strongly when their employer meets Wall Street’s expectations. These results suggest that the effect of meeting earnings targets on employee satisfaction is significant when employees’ incentives align more with those of their employer or when employees are not unduly pressured. Data Availability: Data are commercially available.