Carrot and stick

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Carrot and stick is a term (idiom) used to refer to the act of simultaneously rewarding good behaviour while punishing bad behaviour. For example, if a worker is slacking off using a company provided privilege or asset, the company may give the worker something similar (usually allowance of use or a certain discount) at home while restricting his access to the privilege at work. Effectiveness generally varies per worker.

An older interpretation is the use of a carrot dangling on a stick in front of an uncooperative mule, so that the encouragement is constant, but the satisfaction is permanently elusive.