It appears that firms are no longer falling in line to match fall bonuses. As some market leaders expressly rejected the idea, it raises questions about the efficacy of using cash bonuses for retention, and whether it’s wise for all firms to follow the leader.

“Some firms didn’t want or need to give the bonuses so they didn’t,” said legal consultant Kent Zimmermann. “And then, once firms like those three did not give them, it was cover for most firms not to give them if they didn’t want to give them, and most didn’t want to give them.”