[CherylBower]

This also shows lack of loyalty in corporate America. My parents were very loyal to their employers. The employers seemed very loyal to them (my parents were actually very lucky). Corporations are loyal to the bottom line, interfere with that and bye bye. I am a free market capitalist, but I am as loyal to my employer and it is to me. I will look for the better deal all the time.

[Hodar]

"Loyalty" is a funny thing. I have heard managers tell me that come payday, we are square and that a new week means that the whole arrangement starts over again.

Then, I have seen Loyalty demonstraged at another company that I have never heard of before.

CRAY - US maker of Supercomputers is the ONLY company that has demonstrated loyalty to it's employees, the way I would if I were in a position of power. We had a woman (young, married with 2 kids) who worked in the shipping/receiving department. She had a brain anurism that had her completely and permanently disabled. AS she had only been with the company for a few months, she had neither vacation nor sick-leave to cover her the 90 days until her permanent disability insurance (paid for by Cray) kicked in. The good people in HR at Cray let it be known that people who desired to, could contibute a day of either sick-leave, or vacation to this person. Within 3 hours, people had donated enough hours so that this person could recieve 100% full pay, until her permanent insurance kicked in.

Unfortunately, that caliber of compaany is the exception to the rule. Loyalty to the company is a one way street. Companies expect it, but practically never extend it.

[etcetera]

"This also shows lack of loyalty in corporate America..."

Corporate loyalty went out years ago. Employees learned the hard way that loyalty to the corporation is not returned. The best loyalty is to yourself and your profession.

As an IT worker, I have no loyalties to the corporation I work for - bank, hospital, government agency, store, whatever. I maintain their equipment and preserve the integrity of their data.

In return, they pay me money, give me some benefits. And that's as far as the relationship goes.

After numerous layoffs, firings, and mergers, what does corporate America expect from me? Whenever their bottom line suffers, I'm the first to take a pay cut. Whenever restructuring takes place, I'm the first one out. Whenever a merger takes place, I'm the first one transferred.

Corporate loyalty is to the bottom line and to the stock holders. That's understandable and that's how it should be.

Who can fault me, the employee, for taking a similar view?

[Libertina]

It is sad. Workers are supposed to be so loyal, big businesses complain that they have no loyal employees, but their behavior is pretty disapppointing as well.