IMO stock options mean nothing. It is an elusive dream that every company will have an IPO and the shareholders will strike it rich. I’ve been an engineer for 15 years now, and I only know one or two people who have become rich this way. Has anyone on this forum struck it rich this way? Know anyone who has? Do tell. The guys I know who got rich did so by starting a company then eventually being bought out.
For your situation my logic is simple, here are the options I see:
1. Take the promotion, work longer and harder for less pay, and *maybe* your stock options will pay off.
2. Don’t take the promotion and you’re guaranteed to make $30k more per year plus OT.
Being a manager means being good at making business decisions. If I were you I would tell them about your wife-2b and tuition and saving for a home and so on. I think your promotion offer is insulting.
Now I have two questions: First, what’s up with paying for your wife-2b’s tuition? Next, if you’re making $140k now and saving only $2-$3k per month what are you doing with the other $8-$9k?
BTW middle-managers are usually the first to go if there are ever layoffs.
