Time and again, we see CEOs and similar executives make horrible decisions that massively damage a company both financially and in terms of reputation and the perpetrator is forced to resign, yet receives so much money as a going away present you’d think they’re being rewarded for their fuck up. Why??
Everybody in the thread so far has a pretty bitter take, and I agree that golden parachutes are a joke. But I want to offer a more neutral explanation:
Basically, for an executive at a near-CEO level, taking on a position at a new company involves a lot of risk. Companies want to hire a top executive who’s willing to take a career risk without having to consider their own bottom line. A golden parachute removes personal risk.
Now, it might seem like this runs contrary to the company’s own interests, but they exist to attract CEOs and other top executives. They’re meant to make an offer more attractive, and any offer that doesn’t include it will be less competitive.