compensation advice

Stock Refreshers: How They Work and Why They Matter

Scout Editorial Team

28 December 2025 • 4 minute read

Stock refreshers are additional equity grants issued after you join to offset vesting decay and keep high performers aligned with company growth. They can become a significant part of your total compensation—sometimes larger than your initial grant—if you understand how they're awarded and how to maximize them.

Here's a concise breakdown of what refreshers are, when they're granted, and how to earn more of them.

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Step 1: What stock refreshers are

Refreshers are incremental equity grants layered on top of your initial new-hire grant.

Purpose: Replace shares that vest away each year and retain talent with competitive total comp.
Form: Typically RSUs (public) or options (private), with a new vest schedule starting from the grant date.
Size driver: Performance rating, level, and company refresh budget; some firms use target bands by level.

PRO TIP

Ask recruiters early: “What's the typical annual refresher band for this level?” It signals you value total comp, not just base.

Step 2: How refresh cycles work

Each company sets its own cadence and formula. Know the levers before review season.

Timing: Often annual at performance review; some do mid-year top-up for key talent.
Vesting: New 1–4 year schedules; front-loaded (e.g., 50/25/25) or straight-line monthly/quarterly.
Performance link: Ratings, calibration, and manager advocacy drive grant size. Strong impact narratives matter.
Company health: Budget and stock price affect USD value; down cycles may see flatter refreshers or option repricing.

PRO TIP

Track your impact doc quarterly; map outcomes to level expectations and business metrics so your manager can advocate at calibration.

Final tips: Maximize refreshers

Be intentional about visibility, timing, and negotiation.

🎯 Align with priorities: ship projects tied to revenue, retention, or reliability before review cycles.
🗓️ Ask about refresh budgets and criteria ahead of review to avoid surprises.
🤝 Use competing offers judiciously to negotiate a refresh top-up or promotion when appropriate.

PRO TIP

If refreshers are weak, negotiate a higher signing bonus, larger initial grant, or accelerated review to balance total comp.

Refreshers can be a huge unlock in your compensation trajectory. Understand the levers, stay visible, and advocate for your impact to keep your equity growing with your contributions.

Table of contents

Intro Step 1: What stock refreshers are Step 2: How refresh cycles work Final tips: Maximize refreshers

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