No that is the standard for companies, it is not the rules, you can negotiate any terms that you are comfortable with. Me personally, I am not comfortable taking reduced compensation for a year before I earn the replacement of that forgone compensation. To me it would be no different then someone saying to me, hey we are going to pay you half of market and then at the end of the year we will give you a bonus that pays the other half of your rate. My response to that would be, and if I am terminated you prorate that bonus and issue me the prorated bonus on termination. I would allow for a 3 month window but that is as far as I am willing to risk reduced compensation for a future promise.