From what I hear in VDSI, very few people got retention bonus. Looks like there will be three categories of people. One, folks who will be rebadged. Two, folks who will be retained. Three, folks who will be retained with retention bonus.
Attrition is at an all time high and to stop what little of talent is left, it seems they came up with this retention bonus. Apparently they want to ensure that a few of the people retained stay with the company till it stabilizes. People who got a RB offer also have to sign a bond with the company.
Common sense says folks who got RB will definitely be retained along with a few other people. And they are giving RB only to people who they think are important and may leave. I am not sure what happens to the folks who have been retained without RB.. maybe they will let them go in a few months ? I think folks retained without RB are the ones who were not picked up by the other company (maybe because high salaries ?) and VZ would not be able to let them go immediately because they have to pay severances.. and whatever money they have is apparently being given as RB.