What happens to your options if you are laid off?
Unvested options are usually forfeited, and vested options usually come with a short exercise window.
The 90-day window
Most plans give 90 days after termination to exercise vested options or lose them. Some companies offer extended windows of up to ten years, but extending past 90 days converts ISOs into NSOs.
Severance and acceleration
Check whether your grant has single- or double-trigger acceleration and whether severance includes continued vesting. These terms are negotiable at exit more often than people assume.
The cash crunch
A short window forces an exercise decision at the worst possible moment. Decide the maximum you will spend before the deadline, and remember the tax bill lands the following April.
Educational content, not tax advice. Your outcome depends on your grant documents, income and state. Equity Tax Engine models your actual position — join the waitlist.