Why do employers complain about lack of loyalty - then screw their employees

It’s always the same places - bitch and moan - no one wants to work..and those who do aren’t loyal. Meanwhile - they pull every chicken shit little trick they can and try and cheat you out of ever cent.


So been at current job a year - overall up until recently it’s been good. Never thought I’d have left my last job until they got VERY difficult to deal with - changing my duties (went from home
based to asking me to be on the road away from home 30-40 weeks of the year) - when I said no and asked to be re/assigned said no and gave my notice. Came to find out the request to relocate never even was given to HQ as the local manager didn’t want to have to replace me and wanted me to stay - hoped I’d back off my demand.

So when I came aboard my current job - I made a few things clear. This was “long term” for me - I didn’t want to have to be looking for a job 6 months later and I want to work with a supervisor I like. I knew my bosses boss coming in (worked together previously) and knew we would work well together- and on their recommendation - I agreed that my supervisor of the last year would be a good fit.

6 months ago I was approached about another job - went to my supervisor and said - here’s what I was offered - I’d like to stay - and if we can come to a compromise- great, I will. They actually went above what I expected and reiterated they felt we had a great team thing going and didn’t want to risk losing it.

6 months later - with other groups experiencing multiple “cold quits” (no notice - just walking away) instead of keeping the team together- they decide to break things up to fill holes elsewhere. Ok - not a fan, but get the business need. New supervisor is much less easy to deal with - insist on micro
managing and telling me how to do a job they have never actually done - that I have been rated exceeds at for 6 years.

Worse - one group has an even worse supervisor. This person has last their entire team in 6 months on the job - mainly due to personality (or lack thereof) - I was “voluntold” that I’d be helping out. A week in it’s clear why everyone quit (including multiple long term employees). Of course the chief person favors both my new supervisor and this idiot for some reason.

I’ve got a 2nd interview Wed with another employer - and if offered I will likely jump - regardless of salary. Will give my 2 weeks - but there will be no “counter offers” considered. The decision to blow up and re-arrange everything months after telling me how
“valued” my contributions are and showing the opposite just demonstrates their is zero loyalty on their end.

Seems no place can maintain an equal level of loyalty and honesty with employees - they cry your greedy and disloyal - and when you commit to stay - they cheat you out of every cent possible and play games.

 

I feel for you. I worked over 40 years on the RR starting at the bottom and retired at the highest position in my department and never once felt any sense of job security. It sucked royally knowing my paycheck depended on corporate bean counter and not my job performance.

 

It’s psychology to guilt trip keep low cost acquired labor.

Things I’ve learned

1. Work isn’t personal it’s transactional. Don’t make emotional decisions at work because the company makes zero emotional decisions about employees.

2. Boomer mentality of longevity and loyalty is dead. It is absolutely normal to paper chase and change jobs frequently.

 

Just so I'm clear... you wanted this current job to be "long term and not looking for a job six months later" and then precisely 6 months later you go to your supervisor indicating that you might leave for another job if their offer isn't matched* ??




*I know you didn't specifically say "matched" and were willing to compromise, but those semantics dont affect my point.

 

I made them aware of a substantial competing offer. I did not say “give me more money or I’m done” - I did say “I want to stay - but if there is some major reorganization in the plans - I’d like to know now so I can decide what’s best for me” - I also made it clear I enjoyed working with my supervisor and teammates - and again if the plan was to keep everyone together - that would go along way in my decision.

They not only offered more - but assured me the current plan was status quo - no changes n the coming year. There was a plan to move some things around - but because of our track record - we would be safe from any changes. That obviously was a lie to buy time.

Now looking like my bosses boss is bolting - makes this all make a bit more sense. If that domino falls - so does my old supervisor who likely will bolt too. Might be a very good thing I lined up these “just in case interviews”.

 

1. Your 1st paragraph is still full of semantics that don't affect my point.
2. you indicated that the "team shake-up" was a result of multiple cold quits. Seems like the moving around was a necessity to keep the lights on instead of "lies to buy more time in which to screw you over"
3. I'm not bagging on you for entertaining offers, lining up multiple interviews, etc. You've got to do what's best for you, obviously. I'm glad that they offered you more than what you went to them with -that's great. It would appear they value and appreciate your worth to the company.

Look your employer has other folks they are responsible for, particularly themselves. If they have to play musical chairs to keep the ship afloat, then that's the move they have to make. If they break up the band, it sucks, sure, but a little understanding might be in order here.

 

Look at the positive. Your resume is current!

 

When I started with my company in 1986, they gave out awards for years of service and safe driving.
The company went public in 1999, not long after that lot of that stuff stopped.
The corporate vision went from customers and employees to shareholder profit.

I'm very fortunate to have this job for the last 38 years with the pay and benefits I receive.
But they would sooner see me retire and replace me with someone at starting pay with a 4 to 5 year pay progression to get to top pay..

I didn't even get an email for my 38 year anniversary, but I'm ok with that..

 

I consider myself loyal to a fault, but if I loose my current job that I hope to retire at, my plan is to have zero loyalty to any employer going forward.

 

Of course companies lie - just like applicants lie.

But there’s a point at which the lies cease being “embellishment” and become dangerous. I lie and say I can do a job that I’m not sure I can - it creates issues and can hurt my employer. My employer says they are committed to long term - and then close down a week later - it’s damaging to my financial well being.

I think it is becoming clear they knew key members of management were on the way out - and they did whatever they could to keep talent onboard to avoid a “run on the bank” situation- once the top people bolt - there would be a run of people leaving to avoid being the last person without a seat in a game of employment musical chairs and recruiters would begin poaching.

Again - hopefully it goes well this week - first interview went good - this will be with the manager I would be working under. Did another with a very big employer too and looks like I earned an offer there based on their application tracker. Not really in love with the idea of going to a huge company though. All the games this place plays - I’d expect nothing less from a fortune 50 company. Only “positives” there ate pay and a 3 year vesting in pension plan - but at 50, even 3 years feels like an eternity - the next place I go I want to be my last. From here - it’s straight to retirement when I leave the next job.

 

I told my battalion chief at the time this exact thing something like 8 years ago...if a firefighter leaves us for 5k more a year, unless they are relocating to be closer to family, go back to where they're from, etc., it is not for the $. At the time, for that position, that was basically one OT shift a month; for a driver or a captain, it's even less than that; we've gotten a couple of substantial raises over the last 2 years and still have vacancies. The real reasons are the same in my business (fire/rescue/EMS) as anywhere else...lack of appreciation, getting over-worked/forced into extra shifts due to staffing shortages, burnout from expectations for extra duties that rarely result n the afore-mentioned appreciation/recognition. I would imagine for LEO it is even worse. Our 911 center has a revolving door but those folks don't get paid worth a damn to begin with.

 

Oh yes, nothing like the railroad! UP has been voted the worst company to work for multiple times in a row now. With the other class 1's not too far behind! That's of all the companies in the United States. Not just railroads. Gotta love it! You know it's going to be fun when you can purchase job insurance for when you're (going to be) fired, haha.

And they wonder why a job that's six figures off the streets with zero experience, no college degree, hell you don't even need a HS diploma, has an insanely high turnover rate. We can't keep people. Out of every new hire class of usually 12-14, probably 2-3 are still here a year later.

 

100%. Sometimes the only/safest way to get a raise is to just leave.

 

I have to add that for two years of my carrier I worked for a privately owned railroad. The owner took me aside and told me if I ever had trouble making a decision to always use my moral compass to guide me. It was a wonderful two year then he sold the company to a publicly held group. The owner did add stipulations to protect his employees. I was able to start day one with 4 weeks vacation that upon retirement had to fight to get.

 

The only way to ensure loyalty is to find something where you work for yourself.

It sounds like OP's company is loyal to a fault, as some of these people should be fired but instead they stick around causing others to leave.. It is often hard to get good people at all levels.

 

Well - just like that looks like things worked out.

Applied at a few places - got 2 calls - one from a MEGA company (Fortune 50 size) and one from a small local company.

Mega corp did a zoom interview - said thanks - you will hear back in 2 weeks - Monday (3 weeks later) got a strange text from their automated system - encouraging me to look at the great counseling service offered to employees. Then yesterday they called and extended an offer - subject to background.

Small company I talked with HR last week - had a zoom call with the people I'd be working for today and then later this afternoon got an invite to come to the main office and meet the COO in 2 weeks for a 2nd interview. Ok - I thought, at least I have been shortlisted. Then get a follow up e-mail asking me to sign off on background/drug testing - so taking it the in person will involve an offer being extended.

Actually prefer this way of doing things - there is no "contingent" offer - it is made knowing I've passed all background - only thing that I could fail is drug test (no worries there). I have been offered "contingent" background in the past - and had a big company play games and tried to use it to renegotiate terms - knowing I had given my 2 weeks at current job. Guess they didn't count on me NOT burning every bridge as I just called my boss who was more than happy to tear up the 2 weeks and take me back.

I guess I'll just go meet with the small guys and tell mega corp no thanks.

Oh - and current job - it's going down hill QUICKLY. Had another melt down of the process again today - just another sign that I need to get out. Cannot believe how quickly things began to unravel - but it's clear they are committed to continuing to bring in new people and screw over existing. Worked well for me as a new hire - but as an existing now - time to move on.

 

Shareholders need their money.

Middle managers ruin the culture and aren't really useful.

People are finally catching on and not selling their souls to a company that doesn't give two shits about them.

 

I ALWAYS have one foot out the door. My resume is updated annually. That being said, my tenure with most of my employers has been a minimum of 6 years. They were good places to be with good people and lots to learn until it wasn't. I always tell my junior guys, this is business. A business will not hesitate to slit your throat if they had to. Don't ever feel guilty about doing what's right for you and/ or your family.

 

FTFY

 

Same thing

 

Yea. That’s what sucks - last job I left was all tenured people - solid crew and we enjoyed working together. Unfortunately - it got to a point we were making half of what others were offering. Myself and a few others were caught being in more than 5 years - but having just missed the pension cut off (only 401k) - people before us had been given pensions and were 100% vested - so they had a financial reason to stay - those of us without had no incentive. I told them give me flexibility- and I stay. They wouldn’t. So I left.

Current job - I said look - I can pick from 8 places all within a few dollars in salary - give me the ability to work with and assist helping new people to the field - I’ll take you and they agreed. A year later (and 3 successful mentorship’s) - they decide to change everything- and couldn’t give anyone a heads up. It’s been a disaster so far - and getting worse by the day. Writing is on the wall - they want to cut cost and think they can use cheaper labor to get a similar result - good luck with that. Continuing cycle - hire “cheap” labor - incur excessive cost because they cannot do the job well - hire better employees and get great results at a higher labor cost but lower overall expense - then decide again cheaper labor can do this role and start making life difficult on the high earners. Maybe dump a layer of management/yes men - but what do I know.

 

I don’t know about all corporations to be honest. I’ve been with my currently employer for almost 10 years now and I’ve seen a lot of people come and go from my department or different departments. I think it’s a give and take with anything. Of course I could take my skills to a different company and most likely get paid more. But I work with a great team now and also very rarely travel and work remote 100% of the time (started working remote well before the pandemic so company was always flexible). This allows me more time with my family, not having to worry about commuting to an office, and just flexibility to do things I wouldn’t be able to do after work, etc. Do I feel that sometimes I get overlooked and feel under appreciated, sure do. But more times than not I have been shown the value I bring to the table (multiple promotions, awards, etc.). I think every company will have its ups and downs, but sometimes you just have to push through and hold out and things might workout for the best. I’m pretty easy to get along with and I like to keep my head down and just keep trucking along as to not be bothered (perks of working remote, nobody comes to your office to just chat).
I will say it’s always nice to have more money or a job that appreciates you, but at the end of the day taking more money for a new job and having the potential to hate it or hate who you work with sounds awful. I’ll take the no stress and less money knowing I have a sweet setup at my current job and I don’t have any plans of leaving any time soon.
Hope everything works out for you OP and you find a corporation you enjoy to work for and a team you can get along with.

 

I think everyone has a bit of feeling like the grass is greener. Other employees at my company are always complaining to management about how high turnover is. But every time HR looks at it, they tell us our attrition rate is on par with our competitors, if not lower.

 

My wife has worked for the same law firm for 18 years.
She complains about this and that, and I just let her vent and get it out.
But when it comes to leaving for another firm, she says she wouldn't make what she currently makes.
She has some sort of tenure there and would have to start at the bottom somewhere else.
She also says she knows who the devils are at her firm, to go somewhere else, she would have to start the process all over again...

I don't think it would matter where she works.
If you get a bunch of women in the same office there will always be drama..

We will both retire in 5 or so years, so there is light at the end of the tunnel..

 

I worked at one company for 15 years, it was a pretty good run overall but towards the end there was a big culture shift towards the subject of this thread. Ended up getting poached by a supplier to that first company and have been doing pretty well at the new spot, but I have no loyalty anymore and won’t hesitate to jump ship.

 

Ah. Loyalty

let’s see, I’ll drop some life experiences and let yall decide

first job. CPA firm. The partners were alcoholics. I quit right after my mandatory 2 yrs

second job. Beer distribution. Controller.
Sucked. Nobody makes any real money. I did 10yrs. Turned in the CFO for downloading adult content and charging the com credit card. They fired me!! This event really pissed me off. But I learned the ropes.

third job. Hospital admin:finance crap. CFO.
did 10yrs. I set up captive insurance company to save taxes. They started doing illegal shit. I left. I made decent money tho

this job. O&g crap. CFO. Way different. All the shit I learned NOT to do, I apply to this company and our employees. It’s nice. As an owner, money is very nice.

I do my best to treat employees great. Our tenure is outstanding. We pay well.

we try to make an environment that employees don’t want to leave.

however. We expect a balance equation. Work hard = great pay.

loyalty. Only loyalty out there is to yourself and your family.

don’t rely on anyone to look after you. Take care of yourself.

I learned this the hard way. Luckily I came out the other side.

And private equity companies suck!!

 

That's what I've learned from talking to my wife. She complains about the owners of her office as well as the office manager but every time I suggest seeing who's hiring she says every other office would be worse. Better the devil you know...

We've only been married for 5 years so I'm still learning how to sit quietly and nod attentively when she starts griping about something.

 

Being that we are men and want to fix everything, I used to interrupt her, but they just want us to listen.
After almost 18 years of marriage, I still have to think to myself 'don't talk, don't talk' when she vents about work, family, state of the union, etc..

 

Funny thing is that if I try to start solving stuff: "I just want you to listen."
If I just listen and don't say anything, after about 5 minutes: "....are you listening to me?"