Good question. I keep answering this one and I hope it becomes a more common question. Let's start with at-will employment. Basically, when I'm hired, I sign a

Good question. I keep answering this one and I hope it becomes a more common question. Let's start with at-will employment. Basically, when I'm hired, I sign a document that says that the company may fire me whenever it feels like it, no questions asked, with 2 weeks notice. During my parents' generation, you'd get hired provisionally for a short term contract, and then if they like you you'd be hired in the longer term (year to 5-year). If this is the kind of loyalty we get from companies these days, then what kind of loyalty do they deserve? At will employment goes both ways, of course. I can quit whenever I want. It's also up to an employer to keep their offer competitive. If I have a potentially better deal somewhere else, why shouldn't I go there? The default reaction of employers to increasing market salaries is to ignore that fact unless you specifically go ask for a raise or comply with some set of arbitrary rules. How is that a demonstration of goodwill? If you want me to stay, you have to pay me what I'm worth. If you don't think I'm worth that, but I think I am, why is it surprising that I'd change jobs? If I succeeded in changing, clearly someone agreed with me. If you want me to stay despite non-stellar salary / benefits, you'd better have some other benefit such as: a) your product is my baby and I get personal recognition b) good career development & learning opportunities c) a potential to be great. Basically, if you want me to take a chance on you, you have to take a chance on me.