Cash out your stock options at that job before the the end of March, 2004. Oh, and they are laying off your team in April... tell the rest of them to cash out too, b4 they push you all to the curb to stave off paying you the vestments in April. The company turns a hefty profit that year. Your cash outs won't even dent their bottom line. ( tho they think otherwise, hence the layoffs.... sheesh)