Zynga To Employees: Surrender Pre-IPO Shares Or You're Fired

ardmhacha writes "Zynga seem to think they were overly generous handing out stock to early employees. Fearing a 'Google Chef' situation they are leaning on some employees to hand back their unvested stock or face termination. From the article: 'Zynga's demand for the return of shares could expose the company to employment litigation—and, were the practice to catch on and spread, would erode a central pillar of Silicon Valley culture, in which start-ups with limited cash and a risk of failure dangle the possibility of stock riches in order to lure talent.'"

Comments

Mafia

[jimi1x]

Is the mafia running this company or something?

Re:Mafia

[suso]

They shill an addictive product to millions of suckers legally. No I think they're big tobacco or Eli Lily.

Or Red Bull (And yes I'm drinking one right now)

Re:Mafia

[Chris Burke]

If you think most large American corporations are run by honest people who actually value their employees and wouldn't even think of defrauding them to improve their bottom line (and executive compensation) if they could get away with it cleanly, then you're an idiot.

If someone had asked me "Hey Chris, if you could put words in Grishnakh's mouth, what would you have them say in order to perfectly exemplify your point?" I would have replied with something almost exactly like what you just wrote. It's uncanny.

Even though I flat out told you it was not the case, you still took my statement that most companies are not equally abusive to their employees as this to mean that they are wonderful places that love and support their employees without fail.

You've literally declared your inability to distinguish between anyone who isn't completely trustworthy, unable to even think of defrauding their employees. Well, guess what? In reality, nobody is completely trustworthy, and there are many degrees of untrustworthiness. There are many degrees of contempt for employees. By thinking only in absolutes, you've failed to notice when something is the same in kind but exceptional in degree. This is catastrophic to problem solving, which in the real world requires targeted efforts and nuanced understanding.

Distinguishing: It matters. It seems to be an increasingly lost skill. I guess because "A is not X and B is not X therefore A = B" is nice and easy "logic". But I think it is ruining our discourse and ability to realistically address our problems in this country.

Re:Mafia

[93 Escort Wagon]

You've literally declared your inability to distinguish between anyone who isn't completely trustworthy, unable to even think of defrauding their employees. Well, guess what? In reality, nobody is completely trustworthy, and there are many degrees of untrustworthiness. There are many degrees of contempt for employees. By thinking only in absolutes, you've failed to notice when something is the same in kind but exceptional in degree. This is catastrophic to problem solving, which in the real world requires targeted efforts and nuanced understanding.

Dude - Grishnakh's an orc. They're not really known for their subtleties in thought.

Different in this case.

[www.sorehands.com]

Given that it is Zynga the employer may hire you based on that fact that you did sue them.

Re:Pincus

[Canazza]

what do they do again?

Re:Dangerous precedent

[Beryllium Sphere(tm)]

Imagine boards of directors giving ultimatums like this to underperforming CEOs.

Re:Don't Kid Yourself

[Surt]

I'm kind of rooting for them to start striking. The rich. With knives.

Re:Dont' quit, but don't agree either.

[Galactic Dominator]

In CA, you cannot collect unemployment benefits if you were dismissed for gross misconduct. Such misconduct includes stealing from your employer. Don't let facts get in the way of telling a good story however. Hyperbole and misdirection are important literary devices.

Re:Dont' quit, but don't agree either.

[Sponge Bath]

Hyperbole and misdirection are important literary devices.

...and porn. Don't forget the porn.