I have been at my current startup for just under a year. Took a base cut + no shares/options/whatever else people call 'em these days. Was promised as growth came, so would pay increase and shares/options. I was one of the first 50 and 2nd person in sales. Since then, we've grown to close to 90 employees. Achieved a series A round and yet... nothing. Well, outside of 3 new comp plans I guess.
Marketing is a revolving door, 1 in 1 out. We cannot seem to keep anyone on there for more than 2-3 months OR the BDR team for that matter. 2 core components to sales (yes, I am giving marketing some credit)
My main concern is as we the sales team continue to build this out, and achieve more goals; when should I see the writing on the wall that they really don't care about us...(low balling bases and/or raises, no shares/options, etc.) Using us as pawns in their game of chess, and if something happens along the lines of an acquisition, we're all just dust in the wind. Except the executive team.
Am I out of line for feeling this way?
I'd start working on finding a new opportunity. I've been in your shoes, and trust me, the soles are about to blow through and Mom & Dad will never replace them for you.
Left my last role after leadership reneging not once, but twice, on my base increase after two successive promotions and my team hauling in two of the largest deals in company history. They see you as an asset, which is what we are, and they'll pay the lowest dollar value to keep that asset in operation.
It's tough b/c they preach that we're not assets and we're people first! But I sometimes smirk when I hear that and see right through it all