It's such a seemingly self-contradictory view and I love that you're sharing it because it makes complete sense in the world of ill-logic in which we find ourselves.

Loyalty means nothing as an employee now (and for a while) in the same way that existing customers don't get the perks that new sign-ups get. Employees are being viewed more and more the same way as customers; is this an extension of "if all you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail"? It worked for customers, which are people, why can't it work for employees since they're also people and therefore afflicted with the same psychological pressure points.

It's all a calculation of the individual status: Is their leaving going to cost them more than staying for a lower-than-CPI "raise"?

The "churn" cost to the company doesn't seem to be a KPI in most places. "Seat-filled = seat-filled" may be the equation, with no preceding multiplier as to the knowledge or expertise held in each seat.

I wonder when loyalty to a company meant anything? I mean, I'm sure there are, and were companies where it did. But was it ever a norm?

Good point, it's probably always been just a story and after a certain amount of bitter experience we eventually realise it is not true.

A persistent, rolling wave on the sea of fiction that eventually breaks on the shores of the gritty-sanded beach of experience behind the dunes of which is built the school of hard knocks.

I think it meant something in the West long time ago. And it still means something in Japan. But to have employees giving you loyalty, you have to give them something else in return.

Okay. You might end up millions poorer. But at what cost?

I once had an offer that was 20 percent higher than the current salary I received at that time. I passed on it. I valued working with my coworkers more.

I have a standard of living that is fine by me. I do not complain. My SO was able to go back to university and we still have our house, are able to pay the mortgage, put aside play and emergency money.

Sure. I could already make more money. But to what end? What should I do with it? I would probably increase the amount of money I donate as I did with every raise. I would put more into my retirement fund. Other than that? I would probably buy more crap.

Why should I care about theoretically making millions more (or hundreds of thousands in Germany to be more realistic). I enjoy the fact that I can trust in my colleagues offering help and trusting my knowledge and my opinion. We know each other well enough to trust each other and have a good relationship. We can be vulnerable with each other.

Something I did not have before.

Why would I throw this away just because I theoretically could make a few bucks more?

Wow. I just realized why I value my team/environment so much (and believe me, there are a ton of things I am unnerved about at my current job regarding processes from the parent company).

A heart attack in the US can cost over $1 million to survive. Hope this put things in into perspective.

Yes it does. But how to people manage that don't make these IT job salaries? How do "regular" Americans survive such an event?

Bankruptcy, or they die from not being able to afford care beyond the stabilization emergency rooms are obligated to give (and bill extremely high for) even without insurance or ability to pay. Plenty of people can't afford chemo, for example, and just die.

Think you already know the answer to this… :-)

They don't, or they go bankrupt.

> Okay. You might end up millions poorer. But at what cost?

Not to be snarky but... "millions"? the answer is right there in your question. You are making it seem like getting that extra money is going to cost OP their health or family, when in reality, the higher paying job will likely have better WLB and more interesting technology.

> Not to be snarky but

Yeah. Exactly.

Why should I want to earn millions while doing something I despise. As if money was worth living against my values. Not everybody buys into this ideology.

I actually don't do things purely for monetary reasons. Gladly my parents instilled some better values in me.

To be clear - I definitely have no problem with earning money. I absolutely like to make money if it coincides with my values. But only then.

You don't have to do anything you despise. I love what I do and the impact that it has on society, in my area of work there are companies that pay worse (and have worse wlb btw) than the one I'm currently at. I worked at some of those, and as soon as I was able to, I left, and I don't regret it a bit.

Same here. And there are companies I could probably at least get 50 to 80 percent more. With less secure job, with more cut throat management, with toxic culture and the need to work for clients in military or clients like Nestlé and the likes.

So there goes some of the the reasons I am not working there.