If any employee both current and past do not understand what. ESOP is please find out.
It entitles the person to be paid dividends, vote shares, and be paid in company stock if that person chooses.
The dividends are paid even when in a 401k and are treated like REgular income.
Do some research, check a box that says pay me in cash vs dividends on the fidelity website.
Maybe get some money now.
Learn it !!!