I joined a start up last july, the offer letter included 1% equity upon first year and another 1.5% upon year 2. there has been no mention of this equity position from the CEO in the past 6 months. Should i walk away or “fight” for the equity? Does anyone have any experiece or advice they can give me?
Has ceo mentioned anything that makes you think your equity is gone?
Not specifically
Why would you assume your equity is gone? At your 1 year cliff, if you were given stock options, you have the right to exercise them (talk to HR at that time, or whoever is handling equity). Then they have to give you a certificate that proves you own your % in the company
Check with HR and just pretend you need to give the records to your accountant. If HR won't, then chat with a lawyer about your options.
The only paperwork we signed regarding the equity was the offer letter. There wasn’t an HR when I was brought on. Traditionally is there more paperwork regarding the equity vesting at onboarding?
If there's an HR department *now*, then they have all of that documentation. If you still have a copy of the offer letter (you should), then chat with an attorney about what could be going on here. Not necessarily bad, not necessarily good. But either way, HR has the details.
Just ask HR.
You guys are kind of just jumping to the most confrontational option. Check with HR first and let them know you haven’t received information regarding your equity. Lol, jeeze, these guys are so quick to pull the trigger.
Hope you had it in writing. If it's worth anything you will get your money. I remember FB had to settle with a guy over some agreement written on a napkin
It’s written on the offer letter
Have you had a chat with the CEO? Is there a board ? Usually takes more time but the grant of the equity is dated at the year timeline.
Idk how startups work but a lot of big companies grant shares on a quarterly basis. So you might have to round up to the quarter
If it was part of the agreement then they owe it to you at the agreed time, end of story. Have you asked HR or the leadership yet? I’d start there. Don’t sign or make any verbal agreements to let them give you less than what you’re owed. If all else fails and it’s worth it a lawyer can probably clean it up pretty quickly for you, but I probably wouldn’t go that route until you’ve exhausted all your other options and don’t want to work there anymore
Sometimes HR systems/people fudge up and sign on bonuses and equity are not given and the company/HR has no idea. Just ask HR/whoever recruited you. Especially at a startup, it’s probably just an honest mistake.
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Fight , fight , fight
How do you recommend me going about this?
..just ask when you should expect the equity?