[mindcrime]

But why am I busting my ass, working those long hours, while you're not, and you're still going to get more than me?

Because you're getting paid, presumably. Why does it matter if some hypothetical founder In absentia is making more than you or not? Know your own value and negotiate compensation that seems fair. If you want "free money for laying around" then negotiate a large portion of your own compensation as a percentage of the company's profits (or as stock in a company that offers dividends). Ownership isn't just for the founders.

Anyway, that aside, the truth is, most people in most companies aren't really "busting their ass", at least not all the time. They're coasting, doing just enough to not get fired, and spending plenty of time reading Dilbert, Techcrunch, Hacker News, Facebook, whatever. If people are busting their asses, they probably have what they consider a good reason. Something like:

1. They want a promotion / raise.

2. They are just plain passionate about what they are doing.

3. Their compensation is somehow tied to the performance of the company.

4. They're trying to impress somebody for whatever reason. Maybe so they can go on to start their own company.

5. Insert $WHATEVER.

[s73v3r]

I'm getting paid, but so are they. And seeing something like that makes it so that I work just hard enough to not get fired. Not the kind of extra mile stuff that these companies typically complain that they want to see from their employees.

[mindcrime]

Sure, absolutely. I don't advocate doing any "extra mile" stuff unless you have a damn good reason to. I mean, if you think you're in like to make CEO (or whatever) one day, then by all means, do whatever it takes. Otherwise, my feeling is, conserve as much of your mental/physical/emotional/spiritual/whatever energy as you can, to use on ends that DO matter to you.