This might be true in tech world but in local economies does not make sense. How can folks “switch jobs” every two years when there may not be equivalent opportunities in many cases?
I’d also like to point out that while many tech folks are just as fickle with their jobs as they are with programming languages, there is a lot of benefit to holding one’s post and trying to build a better company, too.
That being said at some places stagnation can happen and then it’s obvious to switch jobs, but stability can offer many benefits over arbitrary switching for more money.
> I’d also like to point out that while many tech folks are just as fickle with their jobs as they are with programming languages, there is a lot of benefit to holding one’s post and trying to build a better company, too.
Why? Why should I spent my time/energy at a company that doesn't pay me what I'm worth? I've played this game before and it's not worth it. I've been on committees, I've organized events for work, I've worked on building team/company moral, written surveys and studied survey results, planned meals/outings, etc. That company did not reward that behavior at all and not matter how hard I pushed they wouldn't move on certain things (remote work being top of list but also treating all employees with dignity/respect). All I got was tiny "cost of living" pay increases (3% or less) even as my contributions increased at a much faster rate. I left that job and got a very sizable "raise" and I recommend other people do the same thing. You (often) have zero equity in the company and thus zero incentive to change it for the better, life is way to short to toil away for someone else's gain when they don't reward you for your effort.
Of course each situation can be unique. I wouldn’t recommend staying at any place that overworks employees or unfairly compensates them.
I am referring to tech folks arbitrarily switching jobs JUST for a pay increase, every year or two years. What’s left behind many cases is in maintainable code where people shrug it off as “someone else’s problem.”
There is an easy way for businesses to fix that though: Pay people more. If you compensate people for what they worth they will stay, if you don't they will leave. I don't think it's a good idea to shame people into staying in a job where they are being paid less than they could earn on the open market. Also why should I stay indebted to a company that won't/can't pay what I'm worth? Loyalty died a long time ago. There are no pensions or other incentives to stay and businesses lay people off at the first sign of trouble. If a business can fire or lay me off without warning then I'm not going to feel bad about leaving (and often giving 2-4 weeks notice).
I’d also like to point out that while many tech folks are just as fickle with their jobs as they are with programming languages, there is a lot of benefit to holding one’s post and trying to build a better company, too.
That being said at some places stagnation can happen and then it’s obvious to switch jobs, but stability can offer many benefits over arbitrary switching for more money.