This isn’t unusual on Wall Street. It’s called gardening leave. You’re paid for the gardening leave but can’t work for a competitor during that time. The incent

This isn’t unusual on Wall Street. It’s called gardening leave. You’re paid for the gardening leave but can’t work for a competitor during that time. The incentive is your deferred compensation is forfeit if you breach the notice period. Typically you aren’t asked to do any work for the firm you’re with - you literally just go garden for six months. This is so common that every firm on the street realizes you’ll be subject to the notice period they’re either willing to make you whole on your deferred compensation or will wait. The friction comes with tech companies that are surprised when there’s such a lengthy notice period. Likewise they’re not generally willing to make you whole on deferred compensation nor on any accrued bonus (bonuses are typically paid in January/ February, and can be a multiple of your base salary so starting a new job in June and not being paid half your years bonus means losing half your earnings). I am surprised the NYP, the beacon of quality journalism it is, isn’t aware of this culture being based in NYC.