A lot of people have commented that this type of stuff is standard. Maybe that's true.
But if I considered my stock options to be an important, must-have part of my compensation package, I'd demand contractual protections. Double triggers have been suggested; one could envision other safeguards as well. One way or another, I'd make sure that my options were safe in the event of my arbitrary termination.
If I couldn't negotiate that, I'd base my negotiations on the assumption that the worst-case scenario would happen. In other words, I'd discount the value of my stock options accordingly when deciding whether the offered compensation package was adequate.
But if I considered my stock options to be an important, must-have part of my compensation package, I'd demand contractual protections. Double triggers have been suggested; one could envision other safeguards as well. One way or another, I'd make sure that my options were safe in the event of my arbitrary termination.
If I couldn't negotiate that, I'd base my negotiations on the assumption that the worst-case scenario would happen. In other words, I'd discount the value of my stock options accordingly when deciding whether the offered compensation package was adequate.