Most founders that I know do care about their employees, they want them to be happy, productive, and have a great career. It doesn't always work out, but the intention is there.
Companies are run and owned by people, especially the small ones, and people empathize and care about other people.
I’m not saying they wish their employees harm. But if you get hit by a bus tomorrow, your company is going to send flowers to your family and have an open req for your position before your body is buried. The company’s first priority is the well being of the company. Your first responsibility is what’s best for you. As long as those two things intersect, your company won’t let you go and you don’t have any reason to leave.
Everyone who works at a company has an emotional stake in the work, the product, and usually pride in what they do. That matters.
Yes, I take pride in my work and want to see my work get into production. But that’s separate from having any loyalty to the company more than I described above.*
Most founders that I know do care about their employees, they want them to be happy, productive, and have a great career. It doesn't always work out, but the intention is there.
Companies are run and owned by people, especially the small ones, and people empathize and care about other people.
I agree. But no company’s - especially one that is publicly owned or investor funded - first priority is its employees.
The alternative is to admit that he's taking advantage of his employees because he can. Rationalization is much easier.
Why do companies expect “loyalty” beyond the employer gives the employee a paycheck and the employee works X number of hours per week, doesn’t try to compete with the employer while at the company, and doesn’t steal IP?
Does the employee have an ownership stake in the company? If not, the only “skin in the game” they have is will they get paid next week.