Most? I have been working for almost 17 years and have only had shares of any kind as part of my compensation for the past 15 months. I have yet to actually g

Most? I have been working for almost 17 years and have only had shares of any kind as part of my compensation for the past 15 months. I have yet to actually get any of those shares as I switched companies in the middle of that period, so I have literally never, to date, received shares as compensation in my career. My wife has never received, and likely will never receive, shares as part of her compensation considering all of her experience is with non-profits. Also, I suspect you meant "private-sector" here, not "public-sector" (i.e., government work).