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The way to share in a company's profits is through stock. Most large companies have employee stock purchase plans and/or give stock as compensation -- not just tech companies. This gives employees a share of profits and makes them partial owners of the company. I'm not sure what more you want.

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Most people aren't getting equity at all. Of those who get equity, it's meaningless. The lion's share of profits go to ownership or shareholders.

Your point is a good one. I’ve never worked anywhere where the gains from equity had any kind of significance. From public companies it was indistinguishable from cash since its value never grew significantly and/or went down. From startups they all ended up worth zero.

I could see equity being a great motivator if it was less of a lottery. I’m happy to do good work for good compensation and that often includes stock. But I’ve never considered myself “motivated as if an owner” of my employer.

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