The Limits Of Loyalty: Why Women Are More Loyal To Their Bosses Than Men

We don’t stay put at work anymore. “Our parents’ culture was of a job for life,” London-based executive coach and psychologist Dr Perpetua Neo says. “These days, even if you want that, there’s no such thing – so there’s a shift in the way we think about loyalty. You don’t show it by staying somewhere forever.” According to Australian social research group McCrindle, average job length is now 3.3 years – and while the under-25s have always career-hopped as they train, move around and choose a path, national tenure average is dropping for older workers too.

This is partly trend-based. Digital access means the freelance marketplace has boomed, there are more flexible work options on the table, and retraining and upskilling are the norm. Tech isn’t just changing the way we work; it’s changing the work itself. The Australian Jobs 2018 report reveals that while automation is still concentrated in the manufacturing sectors, there’s a shift towards “non-routine” roles and career progressions across the board. So why do women still experience such discomfort over changing jobs?