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
1985-90
Examples from the web for golden handcuffs
We make a lot of money from him, and suddenly you're wearing golden handcuffs.
British Dictionary definitions for golden handcuffs
golden handcuffs
plural noun
1.
(informal) payments deferred over a number of years that induce a person to stay with a particular company or in a particular job
Slang definitions & phrases for golden handcuffs
golden handcuffs
noun phrase
Arrangements, options, perquisites, etc, that induce one to stay in one's job: These ties that bind have become known in industry as golden handcuffs(1976+)
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.