The problem with all of this is that most employment is at-will, employers can and do fail, and stability and growth have never been less sure than they are today. Employees are skittish, they are trying to protect their homes and familes… all this conspires to keep loyalty at bay for the near term.

I find it interesting that this conversation is coming up in the midst of a massive recession, at a time when many of us lowly employee-types have become job hoppers by no choice of our own, at a time where the feeling of opportunity and possibility has never been lower.

I don't live in Silicon Valley and there are no internet startups here that I would want to work for. I have a wife, house, and children so I can't devote my entire life to a company anymore. I've moved around by choice and been forced to move around as well, I'm sure Mark would have seen my resume and trashed it too, but that's OK, thankfully there's other employers who aren't as picky. Although my goal is always to stay with a company for the long-term, I am not looking for a family and have no expectation of that type of relationship with my employer.

The problem with all of this is that most employment is at-will, employers can and do fail, and stability and growth have never been less sure than they are today. Employees are skittish, they are trying to protect their homes and familes… all this conspires to keep loyalty at bay for the near term.

I find it interesting that this conversation is coming up in the midst of a massive recession, at a time when many of us lowly employee-types have become job hoppers by no choice of our own, at a time where the feeling of opportunity and possibility has never been lower.

I don't live in Silicon Valley and there are no internet startups here that I would want to work for. I have a wife, house, and children so I can't devote my entire life to a company anymore. I've moved around by choice and been forced to move around as well, I'm sure Mark would have seen my resume and trashed it too, but that's OK, thankfully there's other employers who aren't as picky. Although my goal is always to stay with a company for the long-term, I am not looking for a family and have no expectation of that type of relationship with my employer.

That said, with the (hopefully passed) Great Recession, a lot of people will have endured wage stagnation or cuts at jobs that they were 'lucky to have' or be hired into new jobs at lower pay, lower rank. A lot of people are taking jobs out of necessity, for lack of an alternative. If the 'new normal' turns out to be a bit better than what is expected in a long, slow recovery then I can see some, even quite a lot of churn in the next 2-3 years. Jumping for 5% in the 'short term' will be balanced against staying for less in the same old, same old for most people with no greater expectation of security.

That said, with the (hopefully passed) Great Recession, a lot of people will have endured wage stagnation or cuts at jobs that they were 'lucky to have' or be hired into new jobs at lower pay, lower rank. A lot of people are taking jobs out of necessity, for lack of an alternative. If the 'new normal' turns out to be a bit better than what is expected in a long, slow recovery then I can see some, even quite a lot of churn in the next 2-3 years. Jumping for 5% in the 'short term' will be balanced against staying for less in the same old, same old for most people with no greater expectation of security.