This isn’t unusual on Wall Street. It’s called gardening leave. You’re paid for the gardening leave but can’t work for a competitor during that time. The incentive is your deferred compensation is forfeit if you breach the notice period. Typically you aren’t asked to do any work for the firm you’re with - you literally just go garden for six months. This is so common that every firm on the street realizes you’ll be s…
Is JP Morgan Chase paying during the gardening leave for a low-level tech employee? I haven't heard of that corporation doing that for non-executives. Do you have any info on that? Yes, this is common culture among top traders, quant firms, etc. But a generic tech employee at Chase?
Yes you are paid, but only your base. You presumably get your bonus covered by the new place.
Source: I’ve been working at big banks for about 20 years now, as well as FAANG off and on and have enjoyed gardening leave myself many times.
Edit: note VP at a bank is a pretty mid level role, typically 10 years xp.