The Disadvantages of Employee Loyalty
Company loyalty can be measured by how long employees stay on the job and by the quality of their work. No matter how you measure your loyalty to your employer, there are times when it can work against you. Your career can be sidetracked and your skills may be stifled when your loyalty isn't mutually beneficial for you and your employer.
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Technology
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Loyalty to a company can leave you stuck with outdated skills in a job that can easily be outsourced. Changes in technology are helping employers cut costs, save time and increase productivity. Those same technological advancements also can make your current job obsolete or cause your company to outsource your position to another location with cheaper labor costs. Even the most loyal employees can be expendable when companies see an opportunity to cut costs, increase profits and raise productivity.
Career Advancement
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Your loyalty may be misplaced if it lies with an employer who doesn't take an interest in employees' careers. Consider whether your employer offers opportunities for career advancement, work-related classes and seminars, or other training that encourages professional growth. Loyalty to an employer works against you if your career has stalled and your career goals have been put on hold or no longer exist. Sometimes employees have gone as far as they can with a company, and it's time to move on to revive their careers.
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Recognition
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Employers who are short on praise and even shorter on fulfilling promises may be taking advantage of your loyalty, especially if you've worked for the same company for several years. Your loyalty isn't working to your advantage if you've done good work that's scarcely recognized by your employer or have been promised advancement opportunities that haven't come your way. Some employees value workplace recognition nearly as much as they value good salaries.
Divided Values
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The disadvantages of employee loyalty can even affect your personal life. You and your employer may not share the same view on what constitutes a proper work-life balance. Some employees are hard workers, but they also expect to leave their jobs at a reasonable hour to spend their evenings with their families. Yet company culture may make those employees feel like loafs because they don't want to work 10- to12-hour days. Employee loyalty can be a tremendous disadvantage when your family values and the your company's mission collide.
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