Tech workers are in so much demand that they don't really suffer such a disparity of negotiating power, like workers in other industries.
Yet doctors and lawyers and pilots have strong unions in all but name. What do you suppose they know that we don’t?
Many software companies offer equity, which makes employers the shareholders. What's good for shareholders is also good for a lot of tech employees.
I’m sorry but this is just naive. Preferred stock and dilution make shares owned by rank-and-file employees nothing more than a rounding error these days. It was different back in the 90s when all the myths around stock options were formed but those days are long gone.
This is more likely to be true in the case of options or shares of private companies, but for public companies the value of the equity can at least be determined.
Public vs. private probably doesn't matter all that much. I've had equity compensation from most of my jobs, and I never really felt strongly GP's statement of "What's good for shareholders is also good for [...] tech employees". My company's (public) stock could double and it wouldn't materially affect my lifestyle. For non-public companies I've worked for, the equity usually ended up worth $0. In one company, I was able to sell all my equity at the height of its stock prices, and made maybe enough for 2 months of rent. I think the idea that equity allows employees and companies to share success is kind of overblown.
Interesting. Equity comprises about 50% of my compensation, at my current (public company) job, so changes there do have a significant effect on my overall compensation. That said, since it's not entirely predictable, I still treat it as "bonus" money and try to live only on my salary.
Agree on non-public companies. I've been part of three, one is still going 10 years after I left and two were acquired. Net value of my equity was $0.
> Yet doctors and lawyers and pilots have strong unions in all but name. What do you suppose they know that we don’t?
Isn't it protection from patients/clients/passengers, not employers, because of how visible they are as individuals and how directly they affect lives?
Yet doctors and lawyers and pilots have strong unions in all but name. What do you suppose they know that we don’t?
Many software companies offer equity, which makes employers the shareholders. What's good for shareholders is also good for a lot of tech employees.
I’m sorry but this is just naive. Preferred stock and dilution make shares owned by rank-and-file employees nothing more than a rounding error these days. It was different back in the 90s when all the myths around stock options were formed but those days are long gone.