Workers Redefine Where Loyalty Lies

Compiled ByMichael A. Verespej How workers define loyalty is changing, so says the recently released F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants' 2001-2002 Workforce Tracking Study. The survey found that despite a down economy, more than 95% of employees are either very loyal or somewhat loyal to their companies - a number virtually unchanged from a year ago. However, the percentage is somewhat misleading. Less than one in five workers -- 18.8% -- said that they have blind loyalty to their company. And more than half -- 52.5% -- agreed with a statement in the survey that loyalty is 'not so much about the company, but is more a question of supporting the coworkers, teams, and customers I work with.' "Workers appear to have transferred at least some of their loyalty from the company and its objectives to the team and its objectives," says the report. What's more, employees don't appear to stay for loyalty or money reasons. Nearly half -- 46.8% -- said that either challenging work or the ability to balance work and their personal lives were the reasons they stayed at their jobs. BETA Research, Syosset, N.Y., conducted the phone survey of 628 men and women. Participants were employed full time, had at least a college degree and earned $50,000 or more.