> I've tried to ask dozens of companies that wanted to hire me just for how many shares were outstanding and/or authorized.
Those questions are certainly worth asking but employees should also keep in mind that even if they do share that information your equity can still later be diluted away to worthlessness.
My 2c is these are almost always a consequence of the company not being a good business. Well, sometimes you get asshole founders/board members too that's not as common as the company just being an absolute money pit. So instead, I'd focus on asking about business fundamentals/strategy - if the company is money printer, everyone is likely going to do well financially
nope, it happens in "good businesses". once real money is on the line, everything is a dog fight. no one talks publicly because of the reputational repurcussions
