I'm torn between agreeing that employees should carefully read their options agreement and believing that there are some things in life that are wrong with no grey area and stealing shares people have earned is wrong.
The two are not mutually exclusive. Leaving your car unlocked in a bad neighborhood is irresponsible, but someone stealing it in the night is still unquestionably wrong.
Clarification: it's an unethical clause to begin with - absolutely agree. Just saying that you can't count on anyone besides yourself to act on behalf of your own best interests.
Well, you probably can't count on employers who stand to profit by your loss.
But you could, for instance, join together with other employees whose interests are more aligned with yours and join a union.
That is if there were any unions in the IT field.. and if they weren't nearly universally despised due to the omnipresent anti-union propaganda in the US.
