I don't like the idea of minimum service periods. If you want to require a minimum commitment from employees, just increase the cliff. For one thing, cliffs ar

I don't like the idea of minimum service periods. If you want to require a minimum commitment from employees, just increase the cliff. For one thing, cliffs are well-understood. My chief objection to minimum service periods (whereby you only have 90 days to exercise if you leave "early") is that they actively hurt disadvantaged groups. An upper middle class engineer often has resources or access to resources which will let them exercise options early. In contrast, a disadvantaged employee is unlikely to be able to come up with those funds—which is particularly problematic because they often are leaving to escape a hostile work environment. At least cliffs apply equally to everyone, regardless of their resources.