I was in Keystone, Colorado at the end of last week to give a speech at the bi-annual SHRM Colorado State Conference.  This is the second time in a couple months I have spent time in the mountains, the first up in Alberta Canada.  There is something about the mountains that just seems to make people think more clearly, or laugh more heartily at my jokes. 

While I was there I met a young professional, about 26 years old who had worked for her company for the last six months.  She was still in that “honeymoon” phase of being a new employee, still finding the job exciting, new, different, not yet sick of her boss, still agreeing that her specific skills and abilities fit her job.  As she was gushing about all the “cool policies” her organization offered, I asked her how long she thought she would stay at the company.  Without missing a beat, she said “forever”.

If that were only the case.

The average employee stays in their job about 4 years, has 13 to 15 jobs over the course of their career, 6 by the time they are 30.  Employees 55+ stay in their jobs 9 years, those 45-54 stay with their employer an average of 7 years, those 35-44 stay five years, those 25-34 year old stay three years., 20-24 year olds stay a little more than a year, and the average 16-19 year old quits after 8 months. 

So, will she stay “forever”? Doubtful.  Most employees that stay forever are not being loyal to their organization.  If anything, they are “reluctant”.  Reluctant to work hard and reluctant to leave.  And just because an employer keeps an employee forever doesn’t mean the company is being loyal to them.  Often times we keep people employed in our company who really don’t belong, don’t “fit”, don’t pull their own weight.  Why?  ‘Cause it’s the nice thing to do.

So, will Andrea stay “forever”?  If her employer continues to provide an ethical, fun environment.  If her employer continues to provide learning opportunities and advancement.  If her employer continues to challenge her to use her skills.  If she wants to.

The gold in the relationship is with the employee.  “He who has the gold makes the rules” is different today than it was 30 years ago.  Just like in Keystone Colorado, satisfaction is the key.