laid off two hours ago. still kind of in shock but trying to be practical.
i had 18 months left on a 4-year vest. the severance offer they're sending is 8 weeks base pay. the equity cliff i needed to hit for a meaningful chunk of shares was 3 months away.
is equity acceleration something you can actually negotiate, or is it just not on the table? i've seen it in some executive packages but i'm an individual contributor.
also: do i need a lawyer to review this or is that overkill for an IC-level package? the paperwork is due in 21 days.
6 replies
veteran_vance
yes, you can ask. equity acceleration is more common than people think, especially when you're close to a vest date. the company's legal exposure for denying it is low but the optics of a layoff 3 months before a meaningful vest are bad and companies know it.
ask for: either full acceleration of the next tranche, or extension of your exercise window. sometimes you get one, sometimes neither.
on the lawyer question: for 8 weeks of severance at an IC level, probably not worth the cost. but if that equity is worth $50k+, yes, get a free consult at minimum. many employment attorneys do 30-min free consults.
ae_andre
the equity is worth more than that if it vests. going to find an attorney for a consult. thank you.
sec_sasha
also check your actual grant agreement, not just the offer letter. the terms of what happens to unvested shares on termination without cause should be in there. sometimes there's already an acceleration clause for layoffs and companies don't volunteer that information.
finance_faye
one more thing: the 21-day deadline on the paperwork is standard (it's an ADEA thing for anyone over 40, or just standard company practice for others). you can almost always ask for more time and they'll give it. don't sign under pressure.
laidoff_lena
this. i asked for an extension and got it with no pushback at all. they said it was fine. don't let the deadline create panic that rushes a bad decision.
quietquit_quincy
sorry this is happening to you. two hours out is very raw. all of the above advice is good. try to eat something.