> I wish that more startups treated jobs as tours of duty.
Is that even feasible for startups? I guess it depends on size and stage, but I imagine most startups don't have their mission and product to a solidified-enough stage where they can think in year-long phases...or to even have more than one major project in which a year-long engineering tour is possible.
Re:When You Should Quit a Startup Job
by justonepost on Tuesday May 19, 2015 @03:10PM
(#9572395)
No, it's definitely not feasible for a startup. Contracts are very common in a lot of jobs, but the friction they generate don't make sense in a startup. That's why you get all that startup equity, to deal with that risk.
"[A]ll that startup equity" for normal employees is typically sub 0.1%.
So your arguing for enforceable contracts that neither side can get out of easily? Ie sign for 7/12 or even a lifer at 20 years
You do know that military's that use thease systems have some rather nice tax and benefit perks that civilians wont be able to match.
Re:When You Should Quit a Startup Job
by philip1209 on Tuesday May 19, 2015 @05:30PM
(#9573295)
My understanding isn't that it is a legally-binding contract, but that you basically trade positive reference checks should an employee leave in exchange for predictability in when they leave.
So they are basically offering nothing no one sensible ever gives anything more as a reference than
"mr/ms x worked here from date to date"
For fear of some manger having rush of blood to the head and leave a company open to a law suit.
What's in it for the employee?
https://hbr.org/2013/06/tours-of-duty-the-new-employer-emplo...
Basically, a manager and employee agree to work on a particular project for a set period of time. At the end of that period of time, the employee is offered the option of switching to a new kind of project or leaving. If an employee leaves between tour of duties, it is considered a respectable departure and they receive the full support of the company in terms of referrals and positive reference checks.
I wish that more startups treated jobs as tours of duty. Your case highlights how having such an agreement with your employer could have been more mutually beneficial.