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if that’s truly how you feel why would you accept an offer where that’s how a significant percentage of your compensation works?

these types of work environments self select for people who are comfortable taking on risk. no one is forcing you or anyone else to join.

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People can have a variety of different comfort levels with different kinds of risk. You’re suggesting that someone should consider a slightly lower salary + future possible earnings on options as equivalent to slightly lower salary + future possible earning on options - risk of loss on early exercise. Some people work for startups, some are angel investors, there is some overlap but it’s not 1:1 and it’s because those are different types of risk.

The point is that it sucks and is largely avoidable.

Sure people can not work at companies that don't provide 10 year exercise options. Its not like they are slaves.

But that doesn't mean there aren't better ways of structuring options and it is bad to point this out.

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