Apple is paying out surprise bonuses of up to $180,000 to software engineers in a bid to stop employees from defecting to other big tech companies including Facebook parent Meta, according to a new report.
Select engineers across the company were told they would be receiving the bonuses last week, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
The bonuses ranged in size from $50,000 to $180,000 and came in the form of restricted stock units, according to the outlet. The stock grants reportedly take four years to fully vest, giving the employees a reason to stay with the company rather than jump ship for Meta, Google, Amazon or other competitors.
Not all engineers are receiving the bonuses — and some who have been left out are annoyed, according to the outlet.
The news comes as big tech companies fight over scarce engineering talent in Silicon Valley, with Meta reportedly hiring away 100 Apple engineers in the past few months alone. The Facebook and Instagram parent company is especially dedicated to hiring away augmented reality, artificial intelligence, software and hardware engineering employees, according to Bloomberg.
Apple and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Apple’s relatively tight return to office plans have also irked some corporate employees, who the company plans to eventually require to return to the office at least three days per week.
Meanwhile, Meta, Google, LinkedIn and other tech firms are telling many employees they can work remotely forever — although some will be forced to take salary cuts — in a move that could help them poach talent from stricter competitors.
Earlier in December, Apple said it was giving all employees across the company, including retail workers, $1,000 bonuses.
Source: Nypost
