golden handcuffs


plural noun

a series of raises, bonuses, etc., given at specified intervals or tied to length of employment so as to keep an executive from leaving the company.

Origin of golden handcuffs

First recorded in 1985–90

British Dictionary definitions for golden handcuffs

golden handcuffs

pl n

informal payments deferred over a number of years that induce a person to stay with a particular company or in a particular job

Idioms and Phrases with golden handcuffs

golden handcuffs

Financial benefits that an employee will lose upon resigning, as in The company's presented all the middle managers with golden handcuffs, so they can't afford to leave. This slangy business expression dates from the 1970s.