CompensationOct 3, 2019
Amazoncatowayne

How do refreshers work at most companies?

I think Amazon is a bit of an oddball as after your initial offer you usually dont get additional stock until your original grant runs out. this is so you maintain a certain TC for the upcoming years. However im not clear how actual good refreshers work at other companies (G, FB, Apple). Do you get an initial grant of say 400k/4 years, and at the end of your first year, get an additional grant of say 60k? So your first year stock is 100k, but second year will be 160k? Or is it like amzn where you only keep getting new stock to meet a certain TC?

Add a comment
Pony.ai janitor. Oct 3, 2019

Curious too.

Facebook fbemployee Oct 3, 2019

At Facebook you get stock every year yeah so TC first year would be lower than TC second year etc. Then there is the 4-year gap because your TC drops a lot because of initial stock grant is over. To compensate, leadership sometimes give a discretionary equity when you reach 4 years to make you stay

Amazon catowayne OP Oct 3, 2019

Amazon is fucked, I’m out this ho

Facebook mturtle Oct 3, 2019

At facebook refreshers occur every year based on level and vest over 4 years. 120k for E5 meets all. With 1.25x and 2x for exceeds and greatly exceeds. Your current RSUs are not taken into account.

Amazon catowayne OP Oct 3, 2019

🙌 this is an important distinction for amazon offers vs. others. Amzn is worse than it initially appears

Facebook mturtle Oct 3, 2019

Yes. I left amazon because of this. They're comp is much worse.

Intel loyalguy Oct 3, 2019

The 60k you get at the end of first year would be vesting over 4 years at most companies. So your second year stock would be 115k. Third year would be 130k assuming you get 60k more at the end of second year.

Amazon catowayne OP Oct 3, 2019

Ah, I see that now. Not quite as good, but since they happen every year it eventually evens out to the same after your initial 4 years.

Google topCon Oct 3, 2019

Google works same as FB but no refresher first year unless you start before Jan 1st. Most manager will give some RSUs if you started in Q1 from discretionary fund or if think you deserve it Amazon blows when trying to grow your TC

Wayfair BScK77 Oct 3, 2019

Are the amounts fixed per level like FB?

Google topCon Oct 3, 2019

Similar though FB refreshers are slightly more

Amazon catowayne OP Oct 3, 2019

Is Amazon the only FAANGMULLA+ company that doesn’t do refreshers like this?

Google topCon Oct 3, 2019

Yes, it's unique, in a very shitty way.

Airbnb airtc Oct 3, 2019

Msft gives 🥜 unless you are partner

New
xoogler420 Oct 4, 2019

I heard also that Amazon uses stock inflation to offset your salary raise or something like that.

Google topCon Oct 4, 2019

They add 15% growth to RSU awards.