I recently received ESOPs from my company, but I have some concerns. My company isn’t listed on the stock market yet. What happens if it doesn’t get listed, or the listing gets significantly delayed? The ESOP agreement says I need to be employed to exercise my vested options. How can I make sure I can still use them, even if I’m no longer with the company? What else should I be aware of as an employee to ensure the ESOP arrangement is fair and doesn’t favor the employer?

If your company doesn’t get listed or experiences significant delays, your ESOPs may become less valuable or even worthless. Ensure your ESOP agreement details the mechanism for exercising options if listing doesn’t occur. Also, discuss with your employer about the possibility of extending the vesting period or offering alternative exit options if you leave before listing. Finally, carefully review the ESOP agreement to understand the vesting schedule, exercise price, and any other relevant terms to ensure they are fair and equitable.