Skip to main content

Rethinking loyalty

Sep 21 2005 by Brian Amble
Print This Article

There has been a lot of attention paid recently to the issue of employee engagement and the changing nature of the psychological contract between employers and employees.

According to Harvard Management Update, these changes in attitude require organisations to develop a new view of loyalty and its meaning to employers and employees.

The very nature of the relationship between employers and employees has undergone a fundamental shift: Today, workers not only don't expect to work for decades on end for the same company, but they don't want to. They are largely disillusioned with the very idea of loyalty to organizations. But, at the same time, they don't really want to shift employers every two to three years for their entire careers. Similarly, companies would grind to a halt if they had to replace large portions of the workforce on a similar schedule.

So where does this leave us? Is there a way for both employers and employees to strike a brand-new balance when it comes to loyalty—one that gives organizations the focus and expertise they need to compete and employees the career development opportunities they demand?

HBS Working Knowledge | Rethinking Company Loyalty

Latest book reviews

MORE BOOK REVIEWS

Relationship Currency

Relationship Currency

Ravi Rajani

In an era where AI can draft emails and manage our schedules, 'Relationship Currency' is a timely reminder of the importance of investing in genuine human connection.

Why Start-ups Fail: Avoiding the Traps on the Path to Commercial Success

Why Start-ups Fail: Avoiding the Traps on the Path to Commercial Success

Bernie Bulkin

Arouind nine out of 10 startups fail, but as Bernie Bulkin argues in his new book, many of these failures are preventable. Exploring the major reasons why start-ups fail and how to avoid them, this book is a must-read for any entrepreneur.

The Enlightened Manager

The Enlightened Manager

Vishwanath Alluri and Harry Eyres

Can we truly manage others without first understanding ourselves? This is the question at the heart of a book that takes an unconventional approach to management by drawing on the teachings of the teacher and philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti.