Table:
|  | For the Years Ended December 31, |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 |
| Compensation and related benefits | $3,247 | $949 |
| Professional and legal fees | 242 | 545 |
| Totals | 3,489 | $1,494 |
Paragraphs:
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for options granted to employees by measuring the cost of services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments based upon the fair value of the award on the date of grant. The fair value of that award is then ratably recognized as an expense over the period during which the recipient is required to provide services in exchange for that award.
Options and warrants granted to consultants and other non-employees are recorded at fair value as of the grant date and subsequently adjusted to fair value at the end of each reporting period until such options and warrants vest, and the fair value of such instruments, as adjusted, is expensed over the related vesting period.
The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award. The fair value of the award is measured on the grant date and recognized over the period services are required to be provided in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. Forfeitures of unvested stock options are recorded when they occur.
The Company incurred stock-based compensation charges of $3.5 million and $1.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which are included in general and administrative expenses. The following table summarizes the nature of such charges for the periods then ended (in thousands):
Question:
How does the company account for options granted to employees?
Answer: by measuring the cost of services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments based upon the fair value of the award on the date of grant.