1.   And companies like Amazon.com are even sweetening severance packages for laid-off employees who sign these agreements before they leave.

2.   Dresden city council further sweetened the package by giving AMD permission to build on protected land, a decision that may draw opposition from the local Green Party.

3.   Financial aid packages are being sweetened.

4.   Adding tax breaks sweetens the package to attract more votes and appeases lobbyists who frequently lend financial and political muscle to the politicians.

5.   The contracts sweeten retirement packages, and allow companies to shed jobs through attrition by setting a ratio for how many replacements must be hired to offset retirements.