If anyone ever says, “I like what you are doing, I want to help”, they are probably just blowing smoke up your ass. We're workers. We want to get paid in return for labor. It's not like choosing which non-profit you want to sit on the board of.
But I'd also want any potential employer to respect my right to gather information and make an informed decision. That's where I think Zenefits went wrong here. Too bad; from everything I've heard, they're an excellent company.
For the record, I pay better than google, apple, facebook, netflix for top talent.
I hire people who want to help. And I'm super happy with the set of people I've hired. I didn't use to pay that well because there wasn't enough money. They stuck with me and the money thing got better.
The idea that you are just a worker makes me sad. If you are that, OK, but I bet you are more than that. Very few people in tech are that sucky, most of us can make a difference. Make that difference and demand the pay that your difference made.
But honestly, I couldn't imagine having so few interesting thoughts of my own that I would actually willingly let myself be filled up with enthusiasm for some ephemeral product, or some ephemeral business, or even worse a "vision" or a "mission". I've got better things to think about at night.
Also, re "just a worker", I am happier to be called a "worker" than any other of the made-up terms which Capital has come up with in order to divide the working class. It at least puts me in the right bucket as far as the class struggle is concerned.
BTW, don't be too broken up about me not being a suitable hiring prospect for you. I'm going to leave the hell-hole that is tech as soon as the school debts are paid, and then go do something worthwhile.