[me_me_mu_mu]

Equity is the only thing after wage comp that matters I'd argue, because end of the day all those other things are meaningless. When the business decides it is time to cut costs and people, your equity is the only thing shielding you. Equity will determine if its worth putting up with the BS/stress/etc. that could arise. If you're not in a position of significant equity (multiples of your wages you're comfortable with), then I'd argue it makes no sense unless you are okay making bad financial decisions when you could earn more to pay for those other things by going somewhere else.

[notahacker]

You think days off (I'd go further and say standard working hours/days is sometimes negotiable) and actual job responsibilities are meaningless? I'd say they're usually a lot more meaningful than equity, which is literally nothing in the common case that the company doesn't have a positive exit event. When the business decides it's time to cut costs and people your equity isn't a shield (unless it comes with a board seat and majority voting rights) and the cost cutting is likely a hint that your equity isn't going to convert to cash either.

I agree there's not much point in negotiating travel stipends or gym memberships instead of the equivalent cash (except in edge cases where you're the top of a salary band corporate policy won't move on, but they'll pay for perks) but employee equity is also basically only an alternative to cash compensation you might get offered by richer employers, just in the form of a high risk illiquid investment which occasionally works out as much more than you could ever have earned in salary and is more often a decentish bonus years later or absolutely nothing.

[me_me_mu_mu]

They're important, but I'll consider those after my equity requirements are met.

Jobs are plenty. It is a choice and decision to take up a job.

Personally I'm not going to bother somewhere where I get unlimited vacation and no equity. Also, I'm not going to work somewhere with a bunch of equity, but then the following requirements aren't met.

I start from the top of the demands I have, and go from there. Meet each of my demands in order of importance, and we'll see about the next set of demands.