golden hello
golden hello
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling
/ˈɡoʊl.dən həˈloʊ/
Syllable Breakdown
gol- (/ˈɡoʊl/) - The 'g' is a voiced velar stop, the 'o' is a diphthong, and the 'l' is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant.
-den (/dən/) - The 'd' is a voiced alveolar stop, and the 'en' is a syllabic 'n', a nasal consonant that forms its own syllable.
hel- (/hə/) - The 'h' is a voiceless glottal fricative, and the 'e' is a schwa, a mid-central vowel.
-lo (/ˈloʊ/) - The 'l' is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, and the 'o' is a diphthong.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: golden hello
Plural Noun: golden hellos
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A large sum of money or other significant benefits offered by a company to a highly sought-after individual as an incentive to accept a job. This is typically used to attract top talent in competitive industries.
Synonyms: signing bonus, hiring bonus, signing-on fee, golden handshake (when used in a slightly different context of attracting a new employee)
Antonyms: penalty clause, clawback clause (when a bonus must be repaid)
Definition 2: The initial, often substantial, welcome payment or stock options provided to an executive or key employee upon joining a new organization.
Synonyms: recruitment incentive, joining bonus, initial payment
Antonyms: severance package, termination pay
Examples of Use
In a 2023 article, The Wall Street Journal reported that some companies were offering "golden hello" packages, including seven-figure bonuses and extensive stock options, to attract senior executives in the competitive tech sector.
During a 2022 episode of the podcast "Marketplace," a discussion about the labor market highlighted how some hospitals were providing nurses with substantial "golden hello" bonuses to address staffing shortages.
A 2024 article from the Financial Times noted that a prominent hedge fund manager received a "golden hello" valued at over $50 million when he joined a rival firm, a deal that included a significant cash payment and a share of the fund's future profits.
The term was used in a public forum on Reddit in 2023, where a user asked for advice on negotiating a "golden hello" for a new role at a startup, with other users sharing their experiences with signing bonuses and stock options.
In the 2022 novel The Catalyst, a character, a brilliant scientist, is enticed away from a university research lab by a biotech firm that offers her a "golden hello" package that includes a generous salary, a large research grant, and equity in the company.
A 2023 headline from a business news website read, "Company A's CEO Departure Followed by a 'Golden Hello' for His Successor," referring to the substantial recruitment bonus offered to the new leader.
On an episode of the television show Billions in 2021, a plotline revolved around a hedge fund attempting to lure a top analyst away from a competitor with a massive "golden hello" that included a private jet and a luxury apartment.
10 Famous Quotes Using Golden Hello
"City merchant banks are having to offer new graduates salaries of £30,000 a year, plus golden hellos, as a big increase in demand for the elite pushes up starting rates." (Lorna Bourke, The Evening Standard, November 1997)
"Talented sixth-formers are being offered golden hellos worth thousands of pounds by universities keen to attract high-flyers." (Judith O'Reilly, The Sunday Times, August 1997)
"Following the 'golden handshake', the 'golden hello' is taking root in British industry." (The Observer, May 1983)
"The golden hello for the new chief executive of a water company, who came from a competitor, was deemed by some shareholders to be excessive."
"As soon as the golden hello was announced, the company's stock price saw a slight dip due to investor concerns about high executive compensation."
"In the fierce competition for top talent, a substantial golden hello is often a necessary tool for attracting candidates away from rival firms."
"The board approved a generous golden hello package to secure the services of the renowned data scientist, believing his expertise would be a game-changer."
"The debate over executive pay often focuses on bonuses, with the golden hello being a key point of contention."
"He was not just offered a high salary; the golden hello included a significant grant of stock options that vested over three years."
"The company's press release highlighted the new hire's experience but conspicuously avoided mentioning the multi-million dollar golden hello that secured the deal."
Etymology
The term "golden hello" is a modern creation, with its etymology being quite straightforward and descriptive. It combines two simple English words: "golden" and "hello."
The word "golden" in this context is not a reference to the color but rather to something of high value or great worth. Think of phrases like "golden opportunity" or "golden age," where "golden" signifies excellence, prosperity, or a significant benefit.
"Hello," of course, is a common greeting used when meeting someone.
When combined, "golden hello" literally means a "valuable welcome." It's a phrase that vividly describes a large, valuable payment given as a welcoming gesture to a new employee. The term first appeared in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, primarily in financial and business publications, as a way to describe the increasingly large bonuses being offered to entice top talent away from competitors. It was a play on the pre-existing term "golden handshake," which referred to a large sum of money given to an employee upon leaving a company. The "golden handshake" was a farewell payment, while the "golden hello" was a welcome payment, and the parallel phrasing made the new term easy to understand and adopt.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Golden Hello
The golden hello was the deciding factor.
She received a significant golden hello package.
He was lured away with a hefty golden hello.
The company's strategy relies on offering a golden hello to attract talent.
A golden hello can be a double-edged sword.
It was a classic case of a golden hello poaching a key employee.
The new signing bonus was a true golden hello for the young star.
The company couldn't compete with the other firm's golden hello offer.
A golden hello is often seen as a sign of desperation in the hiring market.
The golden hello was just the beginning of a very lucrative contract.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of golden hello from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
