The Trap of Loyalty at Work

You’re starting a new job. It’s not your dream job by any means. Just something to pay the bills and pass the time. But you are the kind of person who puts 100% effort into anything you do, regardless of how meaningless your job is.

Loyalty is often seen as a virtue, especially in the workplace. Employers value dedicated employees who are committed to their jobs, and many employees take pride in their loyalty to their company. However, loyalty can sometimes turn into a trap that hinders career growth and personal well-being. Understanding the nuances of workplace loyalty can help you navigate your career more effectively.

I currently work in a toxic work environment with a high turnover rate. If I am being honest I have only worked less than diserable jobs. The problem I face is not knowing when to leave. Most people start a new job, and quit if they’re treated poorly, not paid sufficiently, or have unreasonable management. Unfortunately, I have let my ego dictate my decisions.

What happens when your job does not have direct deposit and pays you in cheques, you go to deposit the cheques only for them to get bounced? That happened at my work place. I asked my manager why, and the response I recieved was, “the owner of the company went on an expensive vacation and ended up using too much of the company funds”. This red flag would be enough to push anyone out the door. But not me!

At my workplace we have around 120 employees. My 6 years of experience give me more seniority than 119 employees. This is both sad and scary. To be in a job this big, and have so much turnover resulting in next to no one reaching the 5 year mark is a red flag. The reason I am so loyal stems from my desire to fix the company. To make this flawed company better than any other company in its field.

Understanding the Loyalty Trap

The loyalty trap occurs when employees remain committed to their job or company out of a sense of duty, even when it no longer serves their best interests. This can be due to various reasons, such as emotional attachment, fear of change, or a sense of obligation. While loyalty can be a positive attribute, it’s important to recognize when it starts to work against you.

Signs You Might be Caught in the Loyalty Trap

1. Persistent Job Dissatisfaction: There is not a day that goes by where I don’t mutter the words “I hate this job” or question why I work here. This unfilled feeling that I cannot seem to shake off. I am a dispatch supervisor, and spend my day dealing with our crews trying to one up each other in who can make the most bone headed mistakes.

2. Overwork and Burnout: I have spent the last 2 years working every single weekend to create the schedule for the employees. When my manager started complaining about my hours being too high, I started making the schedule for free on my own time so my hours wouldn’t get too high. Here’s the kicker, creating the schedule is not part of my job description, it is something I started doing as an additional task to help out. When my work day is complete I continue fielding calls about issues at work. My work/life balance has become nonexistent. My reward was being told I would receive a raise in January and waiting until June to receive a 66 cent raise.

3. Fear of Exploring New Opportunities: I have become so comfortable at work, and have started to believe the grass isn’t always greener. I now make 90k plus per year, but consistently have to work close to 120 hours biweekly to achieve this. I have this feeling of not wanting to let my coworkers and management down. This results in the cycle of watching my coworkers go on to better opportunities in their career, while I stay behind and train the new employees until they’re ready to leave.

In conclusion, loyalty to your employer is commendable, but shouldn’t come at the expense of your career growth and personal well-being. No matter how valuable or important you think you are to your company, everyone is replaceable.