Employment are an adversarial relationship of convenience
Given the chance, both parties would expect the other party be loyal while they optimize for something better than what they have.
Given the chance, both parties would expect the other party be loyal while they optimize for something better than what they have.
But cultural norms are really powerful and can absolutely overcome natural game theory / self interest dynamics. If everyone you know would think less of you after you quit a job when it is known that employers are loyal, you won't do it. Same goes for the reverse.
The most common error I see in employment is the employees not understanding this basic truth. That leads to situations such as people thinking that an employer is doing them a favor in some way by hiring them, which leads to people giving up some of their power.
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.
> Given the chance, both parties would expect the other party be loyal while they optimize for something better than what they have.
Peachy.
Marriage was just an example that points out the absurd nature of the "loyalty" the user described.
You can't say "well, I am loyal as long as I don't have any other options"... that's not how loyalty works.