Employee Loyalty: To Stay or Not to Stay?

There is something to be said for loyalty. Staying somewhere and devoting your whole life to one place, person, and yes even your job. However, times have changed. It is noble to stay with one company for your entire working life, but with all that has changed within the inner workings of most business I have to ask one question. Is it worth it to stay in one place anymore?

The main reason people used to stay was because of benefits. Extras such as leave time, free or reduced insurance, and retirement pensions are slowly atrophying into nothingness. While the cost of living rapidly increases, more often than not, our wage increases are slower in coming. I, for one, can attest to the fact that steadily increasing gas prices have eaten the bulk of my last raise.

Because of this, websites such as monster.com have become widely popular. Now, more than ever, people are able to market themselves. They can put themselves out there in a way never before possible. This enables people to better themselves in a way never before imagined. Loyalty has not disappeared. Many people just never realized that there were better jobs that were obtainable. They preferred to work for factories just like their moms and dads. There is nothing wrong with loyalty, however, there is also nothing wrong with keeping your options open, and there is a lot to be said for bettering yourself. Why not go for that better job? Your children may thank you for it. Your retirement fund may thank you for it to.

With the fast paced world of internet, television, and ADHD, there really doesn't seem to be a reason to keep a job, or even a career for that long. More and more companies have decided that many different types of job experiences can make for a well rounded employee. People jump from path to path, and why not? If you don't love what you're doing, then find something else to do. You spend the better part of the day at your job and with your coworkers. If you are unhappy, then you are literally living half of your life in unfulfillment. If another job is more suited go for it! If you can make more money, or you can be closer to your children then do it! The main reason for working is to provide for your family. If you can provide and be happier that is the best thing.