Stock options and HR oddities - Communications Specialist NerdWallet Employee Review

We’re sorry to hear that you feel this way, but would like to provide some clarification that may help you. First, the switch to RSUs is not a benefit exclusive to new employees; it will apply to future equity grants for existing employees, as well. RSUs are also subject to time-based vesting, just as stock options are, so no one is being “given stock for free”: all Nerds are earning their equity day in and day out. What’s more, while RSUs are attractive because they convert to stock after vesting without requiring you pay an exercise price, RSU grants will be smaller than traditional option grants, in part to account for the fact that there is no strike price. Many companies award RSUs, including Google, Facebook, Pinterest and Slack. It is a form of equity award that is new to NerdWallet, but not new to the tech industry. As a long-time employee, you’ve had the opportunity to accrue a much larger share in the company—and likely at low strike prices. It’s impossible to evaluate the circumstances of a long-term Nerd such as yourself and those of a new employee as an apples-to-apples comparison, but we’d strongly recommend reading the RSU FAQ we shared, attending an RSU brown bag, or speaking with an MTL about your concerns. Second, in terms of our HR personnel, your assumption that we have been looking for a VP of PeopleOps is incorrect. Again, we recommend reaching out to your MTL with your concerns.