Startups employees ko ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plans) dete hain, taaki salary kam ho sakti hai par upside bada mile. Option ka matlab turant share nahi; future me pre-decided price pe share lene ka right.
Legal side se:
- Proper board/shareholder approval,
- Scheme document with vesting schedule, cliff, exercise period,
- Treatment on resignation, termination, death, IPO, acquisition,
- Tax implications – grant vs exercise vs sale time.
Employees aksar sirf headline number dekh lete hain (“aapko 20,000 options milenge”), par yeh nahi puchte ki fully diluted cap table pe unka % kitna banta hai, strike price kya hai, exit realistically kab possible hai.
Well-drafted ESOP scheme talent attract karti hai; vague ya unfair terms later disputes, demotivation aur litigation tak le ja sakte hain.
