Intel Grants Stock Options to Workers

Intel Corp., aglow with record revenue and profit, is sharing the wealth. The world’s largest maker of computer chips said it will grant potentially lucrative stock options to virtually all its nearly 50,000 employees. About a quarter of San Jose-based Intel’s work force was eligible previously for stock options, which means employees can buy a certain number of shares at a set price. In the last year, the company’s stock has skyrocketed from about $60 a share to above $150. The new stock options, which will include up to 1.5% of Intel’s shares, expand on the company’s current bonus and retirement programs. Those programs--including a one-time $1,000-per-employee “thank you” bonus--amounted to $820 million last year, about the same as Intel’s profit for 1991. An extra $8,000 was added to the $25,000 salary of an entry-level employee, Chief Operating Officer Craig Barrett said. Intel said the new options should help the company hire, motivate and retain employees. Its shares were unchanged at $151.75 in Nasdaq trading.