Listen to a Business English Dialogue About Golden handcuffs
Savannah: Hey Morgan, have you ever heard of “golden handcuffs”?
Morgan: No, I haven’t. What are they?
Savannah: They’re incentives or benefits given to employees to encourage them to stay with a company for a long time, usually in the form of bonuses or stock options that vest over time.
Morgan: Oh, I see. So, it’s like a reward for loyalty?
Savannah: Exactly. It’s meant to discourage employees from leaving the company by making it financially beneficial for them to stay.
Morgan: Are there any downsides to golden handcuffs?
Savannah: Well, some employees might feel trapped or restricted by them, especially if they want to explore other opportunities but feel tied down by the incentives.
Morgan: That makes sense. Can employees still leave if they want to, even with golden handcuffs?
Savannah: Yes, they can, but they might forfeit some or all of the benefits tied to the incentives if they leave before they fully vest.
Morgan: So, it’s a trade-off between staying for the benefits and pursuing other opportunities?
Savannah: Exactly. Employees have to weigh the benefits of staying with the company against the potential opportunities they might miss out on by staying.
Morgan: Thanks for explaining, Savannah. It’s interesting to learn about the different ways companies try to retain employees.
Savannah: You’re welcome, Morgan. It’s a common strategy in many industries to keep valuable talent within the organization.