Is Employee Loyalty Valued in Today's Industries?

[lisab]

At least many of you (probably) have advanced degrees that offer some cushion to soften the blows. It is horrible for the peons such as myself that do not yet have advanced degrees. When one is an easily replaceable cog, being loyal to a company not only does not bring its rewards, it is downright detrimental.

Certainly, if you have to work for a living, you *must* always be aware of your market value as an employee. It's your responsibility. Even if you're a "cog," you can learn new skills - especially skills you can then use at your job.

For example, a guy at my work taught himself how to make a Access database. He then built a basic database to track lab projects, and demonstrated it to his boss. His boss was impressed and told him to develop it further. As we went through two rounds of layoffs when the recession hit, he felt a bit more secure about his job than the other techs, because he had increased and demonstrated his value to our employer.

(Btw, no one is irreplaceable; at some level, nearly everyone is a cog.)

 

[Mathnomalous]

Sadly, I'm always aware of my market value. I should have a higher market value after 2013 if I continue learning. My irritation comes from lack of honesty and courtesy from the employer. I always interact with people in a courteous, respectful manner and the only thing I ask in return is a similar treatment.

 

[turbo]

Everybody is replaceable at some point. In a former job, I had secured a large order for engineered fabrics in a paper mill of a corporation that had been closed to our company for over 20 years, due to a feud between CEOs over discounts. My sales manager invited me to lunch at a fancy restaurant, and I expected to be rewarding for breaking a 20 year log-jam and opening potentially millions of dollars in new business every year. Wrong. When I showed up, he was practically crying as he handed me my last check. After I landed that account, our most fierce competitor bought our company and fired all the field technical service and sales staff and kept their own people.

In a later job, I took a failing division from free-fall to being the industry's leader in about 3 years and made the boss millions. Unfortunately, he was so greedy that he became resentful about paying me the compensation that he had structured. He unilaterally tried to cut my compensation (in violation of contract) and fired me when I protested. Now, he is paying 3 people to do the job I used to do alone.

Loyalty in big companies? Loyalties in small privately-held companies? Not for employees. TMFKAN64 has it right. Try for honesty if you can get it, because greed, deception, and inside-dealings will sink you every time if the company stands to profit from cutting you loose.