@reddit14251: "THAT'S THE MARKET RATE. ACCEPT IT OR LEAVE," THEY SAID AFTER 12 YEARS, WHEN I LEARNED NEW HIRES MADE $20K MORE. I LEFT. THE NEXT MORNING, A THICK ENVELOPE WAS ON THE CEO'S CHAIR. HE SAW IT AT 7 AM, READ ONE LINE FROM MY FOUNDER'S AGREEMENT, AND FRANTICALLY CALLED ACCOUNTING, SCREAMING: "CANCEL THAT EXIT PAPERWORK! NOW!"