7 ms·

With the unvested shares, the executives believed they could attract more top talent with the promise of stock. Not anymore they won't.

alex4nder 15y ago
The new hires will just need 'no takebacks' written into their contracts.
- cheald 15y ago
  The only way that happens is if they're hired with vested stock, which is just not going to happen.
- maeon3 15y ago
  But still then mark pincus would find another way to cheat his developers. The only way to deal with little lucifers like this is to completely avoid and ignore them. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pincus http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pincus
- rcthompson 15y ago
  They would also have to remember to put "no callbacks times infinity".
- api 15y ago
  Never sign a contract with someone for whom you think a contract is necessary.
  - neilk 15y ago
    No, contracts are useful even if you trust the other party intimately, because they spell out, in writing, exactly what is expected of each party. Believe it or not, sometimes disputes arise even among people who had the best intentions. They also allow you to continue to do business even if the other company changes hands. I think the point you're trying to make is that if you already don't trust someone, a contract is not going to save you. That I can agree with.
    - api 15y ago
      The latter is what I meant. I didn't mean don't sign contracts. I meant don't do business with scum.
betterlabs 15y ago
I couldn't agree more. Even if we assume there is a justifiable reason or perhaps its happening only to employees who have not performed (which I doubt can be the case considering those employees could not have lasted this long any way), this probably has done irreparable damage to their reputation in the eyes of current and prospective employees. I hope all this bad PR makes them reconsider it, if not anything else.
- pavel_lishin 15y ago
  > I hope all this bad PR makes them reconsider it, if not anything else. Even if they reconsider, I doubt any "top talent" will be joining them any time soon, if ever again. At least, not with a twelve-pound contract inked in blood.
- davidtyleryork 15y ago
  Honestly at this point I think the damage is long done. I'm just glad that they got to eat their dog food after being so nasty to their employees
- whackedspinach 15y ago
  I know several top-tier CS school classmates who are seniors and had interviewed with Zynga. They were considering working there. Not anymore. Note to companies: Don't be assholes. We don't like assholes.
jwhitlark 15y ago
"Friends don't let friends work at Zynga" was something I heard floating around a while back...
- simplekoala 15y ago
  I was told my many folks I respect that Zynga is a sweat shop, and discouraged me going there. Now, with the options scandal, Zynga shot themselves in their foot. What is surprising is, Bing Gordon is on KP's board and an honorable, great chap. Wonder why didn't he advise Pincus against this. Pincus openly admitted that Bing is a great friend and mentor. It is a poor reflection on KPCB, the venerable VC firm.

alex4nder 15y ago

The new hires will just need 'no takebacks' written into their contracts.

cheald 15y ago
The only way that happens is if they're hired with vested stock, which is just not going to happen.
maeon3 15y ago
But still then mark pincus would find another way to cheat his developers. The only way to deal with little lucifers like this is to completely avoid and ignore them. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pincus http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pincus
rcthompson 15y ago
They would also have to remember to put "no callbacks times infinity".
api 15y ago
Never sign a contract with someone for whom you think a contract is necessary.
- neilk 15y ago
  No, contracts are useful even if you trust the other party intimately, because they spell out, in writing, exactly what is expected of each party. Believe it or not, sometimes disputes arise even among people who had the best intentions. They also allow you to continue to do business even if the other company changes hands. I think the point you're trying to make is that if you already don't trust someone, a contract is not going to save you. That I can agree with.
  - api 15y ago
    The latter is what I meant. I didn't mean don't sign contracts. I meant don't do business with scum.

betterlabs 15y ago

I couldn't agree more. Even if we assume there is a justifiable reason or perhaps its happening only to employees who have not performed (which I doubt can be the case considering those employees could not have lasted this long any way), this probably has done irreparable damage to their reputation in the eyes of current and prospective employees. I hope all this bad PR makes them reconsider it, if not anything else.

pavel_lishin 15y ago
> I hope all this bad PR makes them reconsider it, if not anything else. Even if they reconsider, I doubt any "top talent" will be joining them any time soon, if ever again. At least, not with a twelve-pound contract inked in blood.
davidtyleryork 15y ago
Honestly at this point I think the damage is long done. I'm just glad that they got to eat their dog food after being so nasty to their employees
whackedspinach 15y ago
I know several top-tier CS school classmates who are seniors and had interviewed with Zynga. They were considering working there. Not anymore. Note to companies: Don't be assholes. We don't like assholes.

jwhitlark 15y ago

"Friends don't let friends work at Zynga" was something I heard floating around a while back...

simplekoala 15y ago
I was told my many folks I respect that Zynga is a sweat shop, and discouraged me going there. Now, with the options scandal, Zynga shot themselves in their foot. What is surprising is, Bing Gordon is on KP's board and an honorable, great chap. Wonder why didn't he advise Pincus against this. Pincus openly admitted that Bing is a great friend and mentor. It is a poor reflection on KPCB, the venerable VC firm.