Ask HN: A weird vesting term in not-USA country

I'm in argument with a board in a foreign nation, where it's typical in vesting contracts that if the whole term isn't complete (4 or 5 years), the employees don't keep what's vested- it's bought back by the company (at the paper rate, I imagine).

I'm just fielding opinions about this term. Seems bad to me, but definitely people around here are in support of it, a cultural thing I think. Or maybe I'm wrong? Is it an American thing as well?

Opinions?