It's taken me a while to get thru this thread. I would not run to a lawyer...just yet. Instead, like another suggested, spend time getting your corporate documents. Yes I know you already said you were doing that. Do you not have any By-Laws at all
These would be in addition to the Articles of Incorporation. There are certain state laws a company has to follow and in the absence of formally written By-laws, state law becomes applicable. I would spend time becoming familiar with corporate governance and the corporate laws of your state. I would then become familiar with the laws covering "shareholder rights". As a shareholder, you have those rights as well.
Every partner owns equal shares. How many partners are there? Are you in the minority? If so, I'm afraid you don't have a lot of power. Not a great place to be in.
Salaries are set with you making $40k more but distributions are equal...which is required if you are an S-corp (all shareholders must be treated equal).
I'm going to assume in the absence of By-laws majority vote rules. Do you have board meetings? If not, you should as not having any corporate governance at all is not wise and puts all of you at risks for liability. It takes 66 2/3rds majority (Super majority) to typically do something as drastic as selling the company.
Rambler has already suggested some of this. But I'm afraid if you are a minority owner with little power....then the others don't have to do anything. It does not matter that you were a founding owner if you are in the minority. What matters is how many shares you have versus a majority.
Is California a "work at will" state? Meaning you can be fired for any reason other than a civil liberties cause?. Yes...even as an owner, you can be fired as an employee when you have little power. Not saying that will happen....just be aware...because it sounds like you guys are not friends anymore.
From what I have read, it sounds like the best you may be able to do is to "change" the circumstances that are creating so much stress. Unless of course you want to start World War III.
Definitely get more time off. I suggest rather than "asking for their permission" you adopt the stance of "telling them what you are going to do". Period. Take your power back!
A deferred compensation arrangement where you leave the company for "X' dollars paid to you over the course of "X" years is a possibility....BUT...you may have to fight for it and given you may be in the minority an easy vote on this may not be likely.
Will you have less working leverage when the 2 years is up since that contract expires?
Think in terms of creating "leverage" to sway the others your way. If the company is surviving on mostly your blood, sweat and tears, I would think you have that now.
And if you get to the point of "give up" and really want out and all else has failed there is always a "shareholder derivative action" but those can be tough to win, especially if you are one of the owners. This would be the World War III option. But you need cause for this...such as the wasting of corporate assets, lack of board governance, breach of the corporate veil......etc.
Simply put, it never hurts to know what your rights are or are not.