He said companies no longer reward loyalty, but instead pay according to the current market rate.
Staying loyal to one company is often seen as a sign of commitment, but one Malaysian employee has questioned whether it still pays off in today’s job market.
In a viral Threads post, the man shared that despite having 15 years of working experience, he currently earns RM8,500 a month.
Meanwhile, his junior, who has only six years of experience, reportedly earns RM12,000.
‘Companies don’t pay for loyalty’
The man, @aslam.masri89 said that when he first started working, his senior advised him to remain loyal to a company, assuring him that his experience would eventually be rewarded.
However, he now believes that this advice no longer reflects the reality of working in 2026.
Companies don’t pay for loyalty. They pay according to the market rate.”
According to him, his junior was not necessarily more capable or knowledgeable than he was. The difference was that the junior had changed jobs three times within six years.
Each time the junior moved to a new company, he allegedly secured a salary increase of between 20% and 30%.
The man admitted that he previously thought job-hopping showed a lack of loyalty. However, his perspective changed after realising that companies might not always show the same loyalty towards their employees.
He cited the example of one of his seniors, who was retrenched after serving the company for 18 years.
According to him, the senior was informed of the retrenchment through an email sent on a Saturday night.
Urges younger workers to consider better opportunities
The man then advised fresh graduates and employees with two to three years of experience to seriously consider better opportunities when they arise.
Don’t wait for the company to appreciate your loyalty. Your market value increases every year, but your salary within the same company may not increase at the same rate.”
He added that factors such as a worker’s skills, willingness to learn, market value and ability to negotiate may matter more than age or total years of experience.
Netizens share similar experiences
His post sparked a discussion among Malaysian workers, with many agreeing that changing jobs had helped them secure higher salaries.
One netizen claimed that job-hoppers were not necessarily disloyal, but were instead “loyal to money and growth”.
Another said employees should consider leaving after two years, as switching companies could expose them to different working styles and allow them to learn from more experienced colleagues.
A netizen also shared that they had stayed with the same company for eight years, only to earn RM1,750 before finally resigning.
Another claimed their monthly salary increased from RM1,800 to RM2,600 and eventually RM3,800 within three years after changing jobs.
However, not everyone believed that salary should be the only deciding factor.
One employee said they had considered job-hopping but chose to stay because of their comfortable working environment, flexible leave arrangements, understanding employer and bonuses of at least three months.
