ASML Retention Bonus: €20,000 to Keep Staff Through 2030

ASML Offers €20,000 Retention Bonus to Keep Staff Through 2030

As competition for skilled chipmaking engineers intensifies, one of Europe's most valuable tech companies is paying staff to stay instead of cutting jobs.

Jul 21, 2026

by Treasure Ayanfe Adetula

Europe's most valuable technology company is doing something unusual. Instead of cutting jobs, Dutch chip equipment giant ASML is paying employees to stay.

According to a Reuters report, the company shared this week that eligible employees will receive a conditional stock grant worth €20,000 (US$22,824) if they remain with the business between January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2030.

This plan comes as semiconductor companies worldwide compete for a limited pool of engineers capable of building the equipment powering today's artificial intelligence boom.

Why ASML is paying employees to stay

According to ASML, the €20,000 award will be issued as a conditional stock grant, although the company says the final terms are still being worked out. Eligible employees who remain with the company until 2030 will receive the award, making it a classic long-term retention incentive rather than an annual performance bonus.

The decision follows another strong financial quarter for the company. Earlier this month, ASML reported a net income of €2.92 billion (~US$3.3 billion) and said demand for its flagship extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems remains so strong that production is effectively booked through 2027.