They are paid to be there instead of somewhere else that would also pay them for the same craft. You can care about compensation and your craft together.

Say you took pride in your skill as a smith. That’s hardly incompatible with finding an employer who will pay for making quality armor.

Pride in their skill has nothing to do with staying at a company. They can take pride in their skill as a smith elsewhere too. Even better at their hobby projects.

Pride in the end product might, but most companies make nothing to be proud about, except the skill itself.

So, let's be real, they are at the company to make money, and if they have a better chance, they'll take it. Lack of those, good enough salary already, inertia, and "the devil you know" is closer to the reason they stay.

Reflecting, I think people who take pride in their skill do like to work with others who feel the same way. So that could be a factor for why here for $X instead of there for $X

> They can take pride in their skill as a smith elsewhere too.

I can take pride in my skill anywhere I want. What I care about is that my employer takes pride in my skill.

Even if another pays more, I’d prefer working for someone that appreciates my skill (and shows that in ways not necessarily salary based).

Of course there’s a limit to this, but it’s generally true.

I pay my employees 30% above market rate. I know that because I negotiate their salary to hire them, then 6 months later I add 30%. I also care deeply about then finding a girlfriend, a house, a motorbike or anything that’s good for them and that they say they want, and I’m happy when they do.

I also have to tell, honestly, they give me shit. They act like “Yeah we don’t care that your business survives, it’s your job to make your company earn money. At worst we’ll find a job elsewhere.” I’m constantly tempted to fire them before they tank my company.