1mdj:
It isn't just the 2020 award you have to consider. In 2021 you'll also receive another award. In 2022 you receive payment for 1/3 of the 2020 award, and 1/3 for the 2021 award, while receiving another award in 2022. So in 2023, you'll get the final 1/3 of the 2020 award, the 2nd 1/3 of the 2021 award, and the 1st 1/3 of the 2022 award. So in three years the awards should be (hopefully) considerably more than the up to 3% match, which I only recall getting the 3% once in my 15 years here, usually 1-2%.
Of course this is assuming the stock remains stable and our subsequent awards beyond 2020 remain comparable. Downsides to this would be stock decline, initial tax hit up front rather than pre-tax 401k match, and in probably the majority of the cases leaving money on the table depending on how you exit the company. Leaving money on the table is blunted somewhat since you wouldn't expect to get 401k profit sharing multiple years after you leave the company. So to reap the full benefit you'd have to remain with the company for at least three more years. Of course, that is not always our choice!
Does anyone know what the "retirement eligibility" rules are? I thought that only applied to those still eligible for a pension.