Workplace Success Part 42 - There is very little value in company loyalty ...

Throughout your career, one should only be loyal to yourself, family and friends and not to your company, as when the financial crunch comes your employer will rarely be loyal to you.

Several years ago now, I recall a friend of mine receiving an email to the effect of "Dear John, This is just a quick note to inform you that your time at the company is coming to an end as a result of the credit crunch..." over the years I have had several experiences like this myself and supported several friends as they have gone through similar experiences.

I am old enough now, to have worked through a recession and sadly, I think within the next two to three years owing to the uncertainty around Brexit there will be yet another economic slowdown, as all the signs are there, but only time will tell.

Going back 14 years I was working for a multinational organisation with a CEO who was somewhat of a puppet to the powers that be, hands tied he was unable to protect his people. He was indeed a man of honesty and integrity but in the grand scheme of things that doesn't always mean you can make the changes you truly desire. As a result, an announcement was made and overnight 470+ jobs were slashed and this was all due to the financial situation at the time. However, that one decision would have dire consequences on everything from operations to product delivery to the customer. In hindsight, this causes one to reflect on the relationships we have with people in business and brings loyalty in to question. Remember, you can only be loyal to people, you cannot be loyal to a legal entity; which is essentially all a company/business is right? and when push comes to shove and the crunch comes, it's the loyal hard workers on the front line that are the ones who get fired / let go.

Having been alerted to the above situation as Head of Training and Development at the time, when the above situation was taking place, I couldn't just stand by and watch idly, I figured that I was fortunate enough to not be one of the unlucky souls about to be let go. I wanted to make a difference so volunteered my services to help those less fortunate than myself (Front-liners, supervisors, managers and directors alike). I will never forget that one individual was in a terrible state of shock having given more than 30 years to the company. He was crying and trembling. He was, in essence, suffering an emotional breakdown. I spoke to him after he had received the news. 'I joined this company when I was 16', he told me in between sobs. 'For 38 years I have given this company my life, working excessive hours and doing my best for each and every chief executive. Nobody has ever complained about my work and what I have achieved. I worked so hard for this company that it cost me my first and second marriage. I've since married again and I have two children to feed, now this ... I just don't understand.'

I understood perfectly. When it comes to the crunch there is no mercy in business and there is very little premium on loyalty. 'Company loyalty' that is, it is a misnomer. As I mentioned above you cannot be loyal to a legal concept (a company). You can only be loyal to good people, and normally these are the people who are loyal to you - such as members of your family. When the financial losses are counted companies just cannot be loyal to their employees.

Professing years of service and company loyalty will add very little value to any race for promotion or any application for a good job. Stressing to a potential new employer to your 'Loyalty' when you are trying to leave your old company will seem strange. Similarly, your existing company is not going to try to hold on to you if it knows you are never going to leave. In that sense, you pose no threat to the future of the enterprise. Loyalty to a company is rarely valued.

Conversely, those ambitious people who have the potential to move to a competitor (and thus demonstrate disloyalty) are more likely to be wooed by their current employer than the poor loyal people who never present a threat.

The ultimate loyalty must, therefore, be to your family and it is essential to assign the highest priority to them. This means that there are occasions when you have to be disloyal to your current employer, and leave for a better job.

In Conclusion

• Do not allow yourself to be branded at work as a loyal company man (or woman). You will be taken advantage of and not valued.
• Remember that we live in a very harsh and competitive world where people lose out through no fault but their own all of the time.
• Remember that if you want to win in such an aggressive world you must put yourself first because nobody else is going to.
• Remember that when you develop a reputation and brand that is credible, it is not just a matter of your competing for the job but of an employer competing for you.

To Your Growth Success and Contribution