It is an option. In salary negotiations, you can refuse options to increase your pay. In 1999, I was offered stock options during salary negotiations to work at an SF start-up. The "dude" was telling me what a great deal these options were - how I was going to make SO much money from them. I agreed with him enthusiastically and said "I'm sure you're right - but I've got 3 of children to feed and a mortgage to pay, etc. Can you increase my salary instead?" He could walk it back so he added a significant increase to my salary.

It is an option. In salary negotiations, you can refuse options to increase your pay. In 1999, I was offered stock options during salary negotiations to work at an SF start-up. The "dude" was telling me what a great deal these options were - how I was going to make SO much money from them. I agreed with him enthusiastically and said "I'm sure you're right - but I've got 3 of children to feed and a mortgage to pay, etc. Can you increase my salary instead?" He couldn't walk it back so he added a significant increase to my salary.