If you're at a startup as employee like 1-5, you're going to need to believe the equity is worth something. Otherwise why would you want to work at a startup?

If you're at a startup as employee like 1-5, you're going to need to believe the equity is worth something. Otherwise why would you want to work at a startup? The company doesn't have money to pay you market rate, and if they did, they shouldn't be spending it hiring one person. Lets say you're market rate is $120k, but they offer you $65k, and 3.5% equity. Yes that might be insulting, but with that $55k difference, they could conceivably hire a 2nd (perhaps less senior) engineer, which will make your life a lot better, and increase the chances of the company succeeding. So we founders offer you equity (in a pretty sizable chunk actually), in exchange for your hardwork and talents, recognizing that you should be paid more, but you're taking a big cut to help us build something cool. If your goal is to make market salary, and wealth maximization, dont work at a startup (prior to say Series-C). You will be underpaid, and overworked, but you will get a good equity chunk, so that if the company is successful (it wont), you will be well rewarded. Now if you've gotten fired after a month, chances are you're not the right fit, or worse, you were a detractor. But being worried about being fired, is generally an irrational worry, because it's hard to hire someone, let alone someone willing to work a lot, and for little pay.