Says you.

Our HR was run by the Corporate General Counsel. It was pretty much as bad as you can get.

Also, we were paid "competitive" wages (read: below-market).

I was the manager for 25 years (I should mention that the engineer with the most seniority had 27 years -we started together), and I feel I did a pretty good job. Considering they did not "jump ship," I guess something went right, eh?

Nowadays, it seems that people "manage by fad," as opposed to managing humans. It's kind of heartbreaking, really.

Until they find out that while they were getting 3% raises and their salaries were well behind the developers who cane in after them that were paid at the market rate.

Wow. You really want to discount what happened. Why?

Just assume that we were all idiots, and go back to your happy place.

Yes. Anyone who is willing to work for less than market value while new people are coming in at market values aren’t “idiots” but they are unwise.

Did you tell them that “we are all family here”?

Did it ever cross your mind that there are more things than money which make a person stay at a company for a longer period?

For me personally, if the money is enough for me to make a comfortable life with my family, other things at work become important. I could never spend most of my days with assholes or do idiotic work even if the pay was way above market value, for instance. I'd also trade money for more free-time, if possible.

And yes, the company I work at does feel like a family. But nobody had to tell me this. It just does so, naturally.

Well, I'm done engaging. It's fairly clear that we have incompatible worldviews, which is sad, because I'll bet we could find many things in common.

I sincerely wish you the best.