At my startup, we have talked about this issue several times about how we can fairly compensate employees for their contributions to the company. Our company is

At my startup, we have talked about this issue several times about how we can fairly compensate employees for their contributions to the company. Our company is a bit different in that we have a lot of young employees who are eager to learn and believe in the vision rather than people who maximizes reward and minimizes risk. Because of our employee makeup, we're adopting a revenue sharing plan. In my eyes, that's as fair as you can get: getting a ton of experience with the latest technologies for a temporary cut in pay. As a lot of commenters have said, it really depends on your situation, but I believe the reward is potentially great if you're a young engineer who's seeking a long-term reputation as a good programmer. (And for those of you who think I am mad, my company is great in that it's fun, the work is extremely challenging yet exciting, and the vision aligns with my own personal vision. It's my dream job.)