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Chiming in here: I’ve been bitten as that employee before. I helped build a startup but my founders chose to not give us stock. We were then acquired and I got

Chiming in here: I’ve been bitten as that employee before. I helped build a startup but my founders chose to not give us stock. We were then acquired and I got pretty much nothing. I felt that I helped build a significant portion of the company but was not granted a portion of that company. If this employee is valuable you should compensate them. This should come with drawbacks such as sharing the on call rotation among other things. Edit: I’m not saying that you shouldn’t feel conflicted here, but if this employee is worth making a “partner” and you can’t live without this employee then it might make sense.

metadat 4y ago
Fully agree. 1-3% is a reasonable amount to share with your partner. The feelings of conflict are reasonable but the reality is you may be better off with a highly committed partner than pinching pennies for yourself.
throwaway495827 4y ago
> I helped build a startup This is the crux of it. He joined 7 years in. I built the company, not him.
- Joe_Boogz 4y ago
  Sounds like he’s been hired for 7 years, or are you saying he hasn’t actually done anything in that time? If you choose not to partner him, be prepared for him to leave. Ask yourself if that is worth it.
  - throwaway495827 4y ago
    When he was hired, the company was 7 years old. He wasn’t there for the first 7 years. Edit: clarity
    - Joe_Boogz 4y ago
      That’s not what I’m saying. He’s been in the company for 50% of its lifetime. He’s done real work for you in that time. He feels ownership in the company. I don’t have the context to why, maybe he has helped build or direct the company from his perspective. Maybe not. Seems to me like you don’t want to give him that portion of the company, so I’d be expecting that employee to leave. Do you want that?
      - throwaway495827 4y ago
        There’s a huge difference between being there from day one vs day 2,555. Between being a founder and an employee who joined later on. He hasn’t had to sacrifice anything for this company. > He’s done real work for you in that time. …and he’s gotten real (competitive) wages. > I’d be expecting that employee to leave. Do you want that? I’d rather that than give away stock and not feel good about it.
        Joe_Boogz 4y ago
        Sounds like you have your answer then :)
        bradwood 4y ago
        1-3% is hardly giving away the farm!
        rfergie 4y ago
        > There’s a huge difference between being there from day one vs day 2,555. Between being a founder and an employee who joined later on This is true but there is also a huge difference between 97% and 3%
        ratg13 4y ago
        You're looking at this from your point of view, not his. He's been with you for 7 years, there is nowhere for him to go in the company. Competitive wages aren't everything. Having some variety in life has its own value. It's time for him to move on unless you want to give him a reason to stay. You have to decide if replacing him will be worth it or not. We don't have the details though so you will have to assess the value, but you need to stop trying to make this about you.

metadat 4y ago

Fully agree. 1-3% is a reasonable amount to share with your partner. The feelings of conflict are reasonable but the reality is you may be better off with a highly committed partner than pinching pennies for yourself.

throwaway495827 4y ago

> I helped build a startup This is the crux of it. He joined 7 years in. I built the company, not him.

Joe_Boogz 4y ago
Sounds like he’s been hired for 7 years, or are you saying he hasn’t actually done anything in that time? If you choose not to partner him, be prepared for him to leave. Ask yourself if that is worth it.
- throwaway495827 4y ago
  When he was hired, the company was 7 years old. He wasn’t there for the first 7 years. Edit: clarity
  - Joe_Boogz 4y ago
    That’s not what I’m saying. He’s been in the company for 50% of its lifetime. He’s done real work for you in that time. He feels ownership in the company. I don’t have the context to why, maybe he has helped build or direct the company from his perspective. Maybe not. Seems to me like you don’t want to give him that portion of the company, so I’d be expecting that employee to leave. Do you want that?
    - throwaway495827 4y ago
      There’s a huge difference between being there from day one vs day 2,555. Between being a founder and an employee who joined later on. He hasn’t had to sacrifice anything for this company. > He’s done real work for you in that time. …and he’s gotten real (competitive) wages. > I’d be expecting that employee to leave. Do you want that? I’d rather that than give away stock and not feel good about it.
      - Joe_Boogz 4y ago
        Sounds like you have your answer then :)
      - bradwood 4y ago
        1-3% is hardly giving away the farm!
      - rfergie 4y ago
        > There’s a huge difference between being there from day one vs day 2,555. Between being a founder and an employee who joined later on This is true but there is also a huge difference between 97% and 3%
      - ratg13 4y ago
        You're looking at this from your point of view, not his. He's been with you for 7 years, there is nowhere for him to go in the company. Competitive wages aren't everything. Having some variety in life has its own value. It's time for him to move on unless you want to give him a reason to stay. You have to decide if replacing him will be worth it or not. We don't have the details though so you will have to assess the value, but you need to stop trying to make this about you.