[seestheday]

This is awesome. Kudos to you.

You are doing these guys a favour, but it is also very beneficial to the company in the long run. If they are good and aren't treated well then they will leave. It is as simple as that.

I'm also guessing that since you're getting them so cheaply to begin with then they're likely still under market rate with a ~75% bump in pay.

[rmc]

I've worked in one company which gave a spontaneous raise after ~1 year, and another that declined to give any raise after years. I know which one has more motivated employees.