Workplace loyalty isn't dead

"I argued that when employers make the first move toward loyalty - by treating their staff with care, respect, and honesty - employees would naturally reciprocate. Even in our hyper-mercenary age, I wrote, many of us still long for a loyal employer - and if we knew we wouldn't get burned for it, we'd be eager to be loyal in return."

"Bosses juggle all those competing desires with limited budgets, so it's worth asking if loyalty is just a nice-to-have or something people truly value. That's what my colleague Dan DeFrancesco, who writes our daily newsletter at Business Insider, wanted to find out."

Many workers place high value on employer loyalty, sometimes above higher pay or additional perks. Employer loyalty, shown through care, respect, honesty, and job security, can prompt employee reciprocation. A poll of 170 respondents showed nearly twice as many people chose a more loyal employer over higher pay. That preference may reflect aspirational values or a fear response to layoffs and hiring freezes, elevating the importance of job security. Employers must balance limited budgets and competing demands for pay, PTO, and benefits, making loyalty a strategic consideration for retention and workforce stability. Prioritizing loyalty may require employers to make the first move to earn reciprocal commitment.

Read at Business Insider