&gt; Moreover, the pitch that you’ll only need to work for four years is usually untrue.<p>Definitely, and not just for the reasons stated in the article. I believe it&#x27;s pretty common for employees to get escalating stock options as they progress in the company. When I first joined my startup as the second engineer hire, I got something like 0.2%, under a four year vesting schedule. After a year I got a bit more, like 0.3%. After another year and a half or so, I was given enough to bring me up to what is currently 1% -- but again, under a four year vesting schedule. Most of my options vest under a four year schedule that started 2 1&#x2F;2 years into working there.<p>Is it pretty common for regular engineers to get 1% options right off the bat? I thought it wasn&#x27;t.