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Business English vocabulary · Working Life

Golden handcuffs

Meaning in business english, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In business english, golden handcuffs means: Financial benefits that make leaving an employer costly or unattractive.

In Turkish: işten ayrılmayı zorlaştıran mali teşvikler

How it is used

An informal metaphor, often involving deferred rewards. It describes financial incentives to stay, not physical restraint or a general ban on resigning.

Example sentences

  1. The deferred bonus acted as golden handcuffs because leaving early meant losing the unpaid amount.

    The future reward makes immediate departure financially costly.

  2. She described the retention package as golden handcuffs despite enjoying much of her work.

    Enjoyment and financial pressure to remain can coexist.

Common collocations

  • offer golden handcuffs
  • feel trapped by golden handcuffs
  • promotionA move to a more senior job or position in the same organization, usually with more responsibility and higher pay.
  • company policyAn official rule or set of rules that guides how employees should act in particular situations at work.

More terms: Working Life

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