[tomerico]

You only earn money if the stock price appreciate

[closetnerd]

I'm envious of your laymen speak.

Exactly right.

RSU means they gave you the stock at price X. Options mean, they gave you the right to buy the stock at price X sometime in the future.

[dominotw]

so its like call options where employer eats the option fee?

[TheCoelacanth]

Yes, except I think they usually just issue new stock when you exercise and dilute the existing owners instead of actually paying someone else for an option.