[dfwgator]

The plant manager called me in and YELLED at me for letting him down because, “with these staff cuts, I’ll need your expertise (as an automation programmer) more than ever.” (He had announced the day before that I was in the group that would still have a job for 6-12 more months). I told him that it’s nothing personal and that it’s just business (the exact phrase he had used the previous day), but he still said that he felt betrayed.

Yep, there is no more loyalty. Why should employees be loyal when the company is not loyal in return. We are "Free Agent Nation."

[ClearCase_guy]

I had a job that was pretty good. One day I got called by a headhunter who wanted me to come in for an interview at a different firm. Well, why not? Turns out the job seemed interesting, but I wasn't sure I wanted to switch, so I asked for a 25% pay increase. I didn't think I'd get that, but they said Yes, as long as I could start in two weeks -- that was their condition. Well, "two weeks notice" is not typical for my field, so I knew my present employer would be upset. I gave them a change to keep me (with a 25% pay raise) but they declined.

Well, after working at the new place for three years, I got a call from a head hunter ...

You cannot imagine how upset the second company was when I only gave two weeks notice when I left to go work for that third company! They said they felt betrayed.

Funny how that works out, huh?

[Night Hides Not]

Yep, there is no more loyalty. Why should employees be loyal when the company is not loyal in return. We are "Free Agent Nation."

You got it, gator. I learned the hard way that the average life span of a small company controller/CFO is 18-24 months. You come in, bust your butt to get things cleaned up, work tons of unpaid overtime because you're an "exempt" employee, then are told that "management wants to move in a different direction."

I landed a two year contract with the feds, and I'm not looking back. The work is highly challenging, overtime is paid, and I don't have to put up with the BS I had to at my prior employers.

[dsc]

“We are “Free Agent Nation.”

I hate that, and would like to see it change...in some way compatible with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. IOW, not through government intervention, but through changes of heart.