"Put this way, I think it's reasonable that Zynga wants to let some early people go at their current compensation rates (and California has at-will employment,

"Put this way, I think it's reasonable that Zynga wants to let some early people go at their current compensation rates (and California has at-will employment, so you can quit or be let go without reason at any time.)" At-will employment does not mean without reason at any time, and while I am not a lawyer, I believe making a threat of termination if you don't sign over your unvested options would be a good case for wrongful termination. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment#Covenant_of_good_faith_and_fair_dealing_exceptions_.28aka._.22Implied-in-law.22_Contracts.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment#Covenant_of_...