Loyalty- the new forbidden word

If there’s anything that is fast disappearing from the face of the earth apart from the money invested in stock markets, it is loyalty in relationships. There was a time when ‘one job, one wife, one car’ was the mantra. Companies valued loyalty in employees and vice versa. Loyalty was synonymous with marriage once.

Today loyalty is seen nowhere and so is politeness in the method of exit. People are being laid off unceremoniously there is no time for procedural politeness. People are being dumped from relationships impersonally (welcome to the world of SMS!). Employees change jobs at a drop of a hat. Loyalty is long lost is certain fields such as politics.

Once upon a time, people planned their careers and post career retirement in the same firm. Now instances where employees have moved on within a month are common. Companies have also become short sighted when it comes to retaining employees. Cost cutting for showing better quarter results has become more important than losing good people from the organization’s point of view. Life has become fast paced and so everyone wants results faster. The fact that promotions based on seniority have lost sheen shows that no one is ready to spend 25 years in one organization to become a part of the management. Also there are instances where those who are with an organization too long are looked down upon in the social circles as it would seem to others that they don’t have enough talent to go to a better place/ position.

If short term goals are the reason for lack of loyalty in jobs then what about relationships? Hectic lifestyle is making sure that not much time is given to cultivate a long term relationship and also people don’t have the patience to wait and the give another chance to partner. Communication between partners has become impersonal with the advent of technology. Social acceptance of the issue has also made sure that there isn’t any stigma attached with moving-on in relationships.

There is a positive side to the issue – people wanting an exit due to genuine reasons can do so easily without much heartburn.

Does this mean that ‘loyalty’ is no longer there anywhere? It is still alive in the minds of consumers. You are loyal to the doctor who has treated you well. You are loyal to the service providers who have shown that you are among their most valuable customers. You are loyal to the insurance company/ bank and such institutions who value your long term association. You are loyal to those brands which have exceeded your expectations as products. But increasingly even these are changing. You are willing to change everything you are loyal to in pursuit of better service, more value-for-money and better product.

Society evolves over a period of time. True. We have to come to terms with the idea of being disloyal. But whether it is for the good of all is a debatable issue.