Comment by randomflavor | Hacker News Reader

Comment by randomflavor | Hacker News Reader

Does he pay a bonus? Seems low. I would leave - he doesn't deserve good people around him and apparently doesn't need someone as good as you say you are - otherwise he wouldn't take such a big risk with such a small bit of money from his point of view.

And yes I would just tell him "In order for me to stay here, I need X Y and Z."

Just be humble and matter of fact. If you think you deserve equity but the cap table can't support it, ask for the equivalent in bonus. However it sounds like you want an ownership stake at some level based on the level of input you give.

It's hard to start something from nothing and maybe he doesn't value you as an entrepreneur spirit and thinks you are a happy wage slave, and is just testing you spirit here. If you are that important to his growth, and you are willing to walk away - things might change very fast. Or perhaps you work a cog really well, need lots of org support around you to function and don't think that well on your own - and that is why he is toying with you. Or he's just a stupid founder, but if he's that successful, probably not.

He does pay a bonus, but it isn't defined, meaning I don't have objectives that I am trying to meet and based on those defined criteria a bonus is awarded. The bonus is historically pretty good (10-20 % of salary), but I hate the uncertainty. I'd rather have the income now.

Do you think it would be unreasonable to ask for a retaining bonus?

-After your update: I've noticed he likes to toy with people. Regarding my position, I'm the lead calculation architect (no one in-house is capable and the system is very complex). And we are thinking of creating a new software branching off the existing product (we have one product atm) that will address the market share we don't touch.

OK if there is a new product being designed off your core role - if you want more money - you need to engage yourself in more of a leadership role.

Do you have ideas of what will make success in this? And how you can build a team/organize the current parts and execute something FASTER? That will drive reveneue/market share/xxx quicker? Remember, the faster something is created (in a lean point of view) - the higher chance of success. Can you help up the % chance of success. If that is the case, present that case in a concise way from a business logic point of view, the details of the code/engineering are irrelevant at this point. And tie your compensation or ownership to executing this plan, and start thinking about Why, and Value to the business. Until you do that, you don't really deserve more money - as someone else is doing that thinking for you. Until you can understand the actual value to the bottom line you bring and Why things should happen - you are just a cog in a wheel. Maybe a really big important cog, but it's not even remotely close to your machine that you are a cog in. Make it yours, present it and convince them you can take a load off his mind. Then you can share in the executive pay. If you want more money as an engineer, you may have hit the glass ceiling here, and should join an org (google type) that rewards it's engineers in this way. And I mean think about the spirit of this rant - just start communicating from a value point of view (value in terms of bringing lift to the business in faster more meaningful concrete ways) - and things probably will change. Or you will leave and start something new because it's actually really fun to mix engineering skills with business building skills. ;) Go read ben horowitz's new book, might give you some light on your ceo's behavior.

I am hiring and training people, so I am in a leadership role already. I work closely with the CEO and CTO daily to design the software. I am constantly creating new efficiencies and I negotiate the business contracts with some of our largest clients (2M+ annual). I don't know how much more I could be considered a leader within this company.

did you bring those clients? why arnt you getting a commission then? you should be participating more than 20k. Why is 1% of profits only 20k anyway? and again to clarify, as another poster said - if profits are low because of growth - and you are there for growth - your deal should be in actual equity not just a profit percentage. you are there supporting the growth, you need the upside. that is the case. otherwise go elsewhere. cognitive dissonance is a bitch. you arnt being valued to what you think your value is.

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