If you want a future in the company
and that company has an employee stock purchase plan,
then yes, you should.
At least a token amount.
Yes, I know the plan is supposed to be confidential
but the key words there are
‘supposed to be.’
Even if that information isn’t leaked,
you will be asked
(at some point)
and most people are horrible liars.
Sniffing out liars is an exec sport.
Also as a new business development gal,
I could never stand up in front of an exec team
proposing my solution as
best for the company
without owning a piece of that company.
That type of internal disconnect is a career killer.