The New Loyalty

Published by MoJay on February 25th, 2008 in Work/Life | 17 Comments

Many times when the topic of Millennials in the workforce comes up, I hear sentiments about Millennials not being loyal. People are quick to point to our so-called demanding nature, general lack of engagement and inclination to job hop as prime examples that illustrate the point. Maybe it's just me, but I've always scoffed at this notion that we aren't loyal.

In my mind, it is not a question of loyalty, but one of priority.

Let's make no bones about it: a corporation's top priority is essentially to make money and please their shareholders – for them, the "bottom line" is priority one. Corporations are trying to make as much money as they can, and within the bounds of ethics. That is completely understandable.

However, for decades I feel corporations have sort of been lucking out, because an entry-level employee's top priority was almost always to find an organization where they could find stability, cover their loans, and provide for, or begin to build, their young families. It's a sweeping generalization, but for a long time the element of choice was very limited. It resulted in employees securing an employment opportunity, and steadfastly holding onto it.

Generations of Americans knew that if they switched jobs, they'd likely have to start climbing the corporate ladder all over again, and in the grand scheme of things, that would only set them back. Corporate America saw these generations as loyal, but it was loyalty by default – there simply weren't better alternatives.

As we know, the age of digital interconnectivity has broken down all sorts of walls, and the above example is no exception. Priorities have changed. Corporations still want to maximize the bottom line, but entry-level employees are no longer seeking stability. Our parents provided for us and made great sacrifices to do so. We know, because we've seen it first hand. Those sacrifices have given us the luxury to look beyond the bottom line.

We can move home, we've been able to avoid steep debt, and we know our time here is finite. We can access a thousand job listings online that we qualify for, so if we hate our job, we'll eventually find a better one. What we're really seeking is quality of life. This was not always a plausible top priority, but in today's day and age, it is. This is the new loyalty.

Is my old housemate from junior year disloyal? He left a Big 4 accounting firm after only a year on the job to become a firefighter. He was disillusioned. I'd argue he is far more loyal than those that work jobs they dislike, only to be promoted to a new job they dislike, in an endless pursuit of the almighty dollar.

Loyalty to yourself and your loved ones – making the best of the time we have here – is the new top priority. If that means latching onto an entry-level job and staying with that organization until the day you retire in order to make ends meet and provide for your loved ones, then that is what it means. But more often than not, this is simply not the case for Millennials, and corporate America is slowly adjusting.

It may sound idealistic to those supporting families, but if you place yourself in the shoes of a 23 year old, with modest student loans and no dependents, maybe it isn't so crazy to value your time over your money. It is very likely that past generations share the exact same priorities that Millennials have, but had much less ability to act on them when they entered the workforce.

If corporate America wants to view Generation Y as disloyal, then they will, but if you ask me, we're as loyal as any generation to come before us. It's just that quality of life is what we value the most. We all define that differently, but that is the new loyalty, and more than any generation to come before us, we have the opportunity to make it our top priority.