There were 1.000+ people. To have a strong culture requires repetitive reinforcement. In other words, dozens of cross-company meetings, managed discussions, workshops, etc., related to culture + benefits, to remind and reinforce. It is not easy to decline. The proof might be easy with so many witnesses. Just my speculation, I do not know what has indeed happened beyond the article.

What I see as a problem is work laws. These are just not designed for an era of knowledge and creative economy. Laws are locked in the mid-industrial era. But in the modern economy, many value transactions are entirely uncovered by a current legal framework. That is why I am not with people here that are claiming it was according to contract. There is a legal contract and a social contract. These are not the same thing. The ethical code should be part of the vision statement, too.