Shares were given gratis (free) to all eligable employees in 2004 and 2006. The amount given to each employee depended on what there position was in the company and how long they had been in the company.
Shares were NOT given to the BA connect guy's when they joined as they were not a part of the company when the Share issue was first mooted and first round of share's issued.
If a employee then decided to leave the company from the time the shares were issued to the date of initial flotation then they forfeited there right's to there shares and these were put back into the pot for re-issue.
hope this helps.