Silicon Valley underpays women in stock options, too, study says

Women who work at startups earn significantly less than their male co-workers when payments in company shares are counted, according to a report released Sept 18. 

Startups typically offer job candidates lower salaries in exchange for stakes in the company paid out over time, typically as stock options or restricted stock units. In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, those payouts can dwarf regular paycheques, since the value of options or units grows along with the company's worth.