How Do You Spell GOLDEN HANDCUFFS?

Pronunciation: [ɡˈə͡ʊldən hˈandkʌfs] (IPA)

The phrase "golden handcuffs" refers to the enticement of high pay and benefits provided by an employer to prevent an employee from leaving. Its spelling can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as: /ˈɡoʊldən/ for "golden," which has the stressed syllable on the first vowel sound "oh," and /ˈhændkʌfs/ for "handcuffs," which is pronounced with a schwa sound on the second syllable and a stressed "uh" on the third syllable. This phrase indicates how some lucrative job offers can become a trap for professionals.

GOLDEN HANDCUFFS Meaning and Definition

1. Golden handcuffs refers to a financial arrangement or benefits package offered by employers to encourage employees to stay with the company for a specific period, despite possibly having better opportunities elsewhere. The term "golden" refers to the attractiveness and desirability of the incentives, while "handcuffs" suggests that the employee is metaphorically bound or constrained by these incentives.

   Typically, these incentives come in the form of lucrative bonuses, stock options, or other attractive long-term rewards that vest or become available to the employee only after a predetermined duration of service. The primary purpose of golden handcuffs is to create a financial disincentive for employees to leave the company during a critical period or when they may be tempted to accept offers from competitors.

   These financial arrangements strive to create loyalty, dedication, and a sense of commitment among employees by ensuring they have a vested interest in the long-term success of the company. Golden handcuffs are most commonly implemented in industries where valuable talent is in high demand and employee retention is crucial for a company's growth and stability.

   However, there may be downsides to golden handcuffs for employees, as they may feel limited in their career choices and opportunities for growth, feeling bound by the financial aspects rather than their own professional aims. Consequently, some employees may find themselves in a dilemma when considering alternative career paths or wanting to explore new options, as the allure of the financial incentives may hold them back from making such decisions.

Common Misspellings for GOLDEN HANDCUFFS

• folden handcuffs
• volden handcuffs
• bolden handcuffs
• holden handcuffs
• yolden handcuffs
• tolden handcuffs
• gilden handcuffs
• gklden handcuffs
• gllden handcuffs
• gplden handcuffs
• g0lden handcuffs
• g9lden handcuffs
• gokden handcuffs
• gopden handcuffs
• gooden handcuffs
• golsen handcuffs
• golxen handcuffs
• golcen handcuffs
• golfen handcuffs
• golren handcuffs

Etymology of GOLDEN HANDCUFFS

The term "golden handcuffs" is a metaphorical expression that combines the words "golden" and "handcuffs" to describe a particular financial arrangement or situation.

The word "golden" is derived from the Old English word "geolo", meaning the color gold. In English, it has come to represent something of great value, often associated with wealth, luxury, or success.

The term "handcuffs" originates from the Middle English word "handekene", which combined "hand" and "aken", meaning to seize or capture. Handcuffs, as physical restraints, were historically used to restrain prisoners by binding their hands together.

As for the combination "golden handcuffs", it emerged in the early 1970s in the context of executive compensation packages.

Idioms with the word GOLDEN HANDCUFFS

• golden handcuffs A situation in which a person is offered attractive benefits or high salary by their employer to discourage them from leaving, but which may also prevent them from seeking new opportunities or exploring other options.