Golden handcuffs are financial incentives or benefits offered to employees to encourage them to remain with a company for an extended period of time. These incentives are typically designed to create a sense of loyalty and make it financially difficult for employees to leave the organization.
Golden handcuffs are typically used to retain key employees, especially those with valuable skills, expertise, or knowledge. These incentives go beyond regular compensation and benefits and aim to provide additional financial motivation for employees. They may include stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), performance bonuses, deferred compensation plans, and other long-term incentives. These rewards are typically tied to the employee's tenure or the achievement of specific performance targets.
Golden handcuffs often involve vesting schedules, which outline the duration an employee must stay with the company before being eligible to receive the full benefits of the incentives. Vesting periods can range from several years to a decade or more. If an employee leaves the company before completing the vesting period, they may forfeit a portion or all of the promised incentives.
While golden handcuffs can be attractive and rewarding, they can also have drawbacks. Employees may feel obligated to stay with a company even if they are unhappy or if better opportunities arise elsewhere. The benefits of golden handcuffs may also be tied to the company's performance, meaning that if the company struggles, the value of the incentives may diminish.