What you’re describing is the status quo termination agreement that companies require you sign in exchange for a severance payout. When people don’t have first-hand knowledge of unethical and dramatically harmful behavior by the company, and often even when they do, they sign it because they want the severance. What’s unusual in this case is not only did Sophie courageously speak up internally and now publicly, she selflessly forfeited her severance payout.
Without discrediting her desire for the greater good. It is a lot easier to turn this kind of money done when you consider compensation in these big tech companies. To most $64k sounds like a lot, for a big tech employee that could be a fraction of one stock vesting event. She worked there for over a year so she at least saw one vesting event and Facebooks stock has been explosive over last year. She very well could have net $100k or more in a single vesting event. I'm sure she has enough money to tide her over until her next job.
What you’re describing is the status quo termination agreement that companies require you sign in exchange for a severance payout. When people don’t have first-hand knowledge of unethical and dramatically harmful behavior by the company, and often even when they do, they sign it because they want the severance. What’s unusual in this case is not only did Sophie courageously speak up internally and now publicly, she selflessly forfeited her severance payout.