It's because the employment contract specifies it that way. If the employment contract says "If you fail, you will need to return all of your compensations", t

It's because the employment contract specifies it that way. If the employment contract says "If you fail, you will need to return all of your compensations", then nobody would agree to work for you. Now they agree to work for you under the assumption that they will not return what they've earned... then we want to reverse that retrospectively. The contract was signed years ago, but well we are going to change it now. Please return every penny we paid you. That's kinda fucked up to be honest.