Here in good old NZ, there is usually no additional benefit to employment other than salary and 3 (now 4) weeks paid leave.

There is no health care benefit.

There is no pension scheme benefit.

There is no signing bonus.

There is no bonus.

There is no stock.

There is ONLY salary.

Now, I am lucky. I have stock options. One day they may be worth something but I'm 5 years into this job and they only sorted the stock options out last week after the company and board dicked about with a variety of schemes over the last three years.

I'm happy to have the options. I'd be happier if we were cash positive.

So, in NZ it ALL comes down to salary. It is that simple.

Sometimes I wish for a return to a more complex calculation.

The stock options aren't enough to keep me here but ... we aren't that far off making positive cash flow. So, I'll hang around a bit longer.

FYI, giving employees stock options in NZ is _very_unusual. I am very, very fortunate.

Still, another 20% on my base salary would be nice. Then I could afford to opt in to KiwiSaver, the state organised pension scheme.