Blue Origin has unveiled a new stock option plan to replace its previous program that employees describe as essentially worthless. Early reactions from staff are lukewarm, with one going so far as to call the new initiative "pure f—king trash." The company aims to create liquidity events for employees, though the plan offers no guaranteed timeline for when workers could cash in their options.

The new structure awards stock options starting May 15, with grants vesting over four years. Unlike the previous plan, this version follows standard industry practices, requiring only a qualifying liquidity event for employees to exercise their options. Blue Origin will phase out its manager bonuses, redirecting those funds to the new stock plan for all employees.

Blue Origin faces critical pressure as it competes with SpaceX for NASA lunar lander contracts and prepares for New Glenn rocket launches. SpaceX's impending IPO will make thousands of employees millionaires, creating significant FOMO at Blue Origin. Bezos must now decide whether to spend more of his fortune or bring in outside investors to validate the company's value.