Companies are increasingly adopting front-loaded vesting schedules that favor high-performing employees by providing more equity in the earlier years of employment, as opposed to traditional equal vesting over four years. This shift, which began with firms like Alphabet and DoorDash, emphasizes a performance-driven compensation strategy that can enhance financial statements but also introduces more variability in employee earnings based on performance. Prospective employees are advised to carefully evaluate offers under this new structure and understand the implications on long-term compensation.