> You think any manager in their right mind would take risks like that?

You really underestimate stupidity of your average manager. Two of our top performers left because they were underpaid and the manager (in charge of the comp) never even tried to retain them.

I bet they weren't as valuable as you think. This is a common issue with certain high performing line delivery employees (particularly those with technical skills, programmers, lawyers, accountants, etc), they always think they are carrying the whole team/company on their shoulders. It almost never turns out to be the case. The machine will keep grinding.

That's one kind of stupidity. Actually firing the golden goose is one step further