Why Are Loyal Employees Always Overlooked? 😔
- Jay Chua
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 15
The Harsh Truth About Sacrifice, Stolen Ideas, and Unfair Promotions
If you ever wonder why, in a company, an active employee becomes less active after many years of work, here is the harsh truth about sacrifice, stolen ideas, and unfair promotions.
Why do some of the most hardworking, loyal staff stay in the same position for years—while others rise fast?
Some employees sacrifice everything: time, health, family. They bring results, build morale, and keep things moving behind the scenes. But when it’s time for promotion, they’re skipped—again and again.

🔍 A vs. B: The Unfair Workplace Reality
📝 Note in Comparison Table:
For example, in Singapore, Sample A and Sample B represent common types of employee experiences. They do not refer to any specific individual. Not all companies are the same—each workplace has its own culture and management style. Sometimes, the issue stems from being under the wrong leadership within a department. In such cases, changing departments may offer a chance to reset and explore new opportunities.
# | Comparison Point | 🧑💼 Sample A (Loyal Staff) | 🆕 Sample B (Newer Staff) |
1 | Years in the Company | 6 years or more | 1–3 years |
2 | Visible Skills & Qualifications | ✅ Proven, experienced, worked in multiple industries | ❌ First full-time job |
3 | Citizenship/PR Status | ✅ Local with responsibilities | ❌ Foreigner on work pass |
4 | Property Ownership | ✅ Owns a home in Singapore and supports a family | ❌ Still renting or has fewer financial commitments |
5 | Work-Life Balance Pressure | ✅ Has an infant, family, and financial responsibilities | ❌ Less family pressure |
6 | Government Financial Support | ✅ May require government assistance (e.g. subsidies, grants, baby support schemes) | ❌ No financial assistance needed |
7 | Office Hours (Arriving at Work) | ✅ Always arrives early | ❌ Often arrives late |
8 | Working Hours (Leaving Work) | ✅ Previously worked late; now leaves on time to care for infant | ❌ Usually leaves early |
9 | Project/Idea Contributions | ✅ Created and shared ideas—often reused without credit | ❌ Uses A’s work, receives credit |
10 | Booking & Venue Handling | ✅ Personally contacts, books, and coordinates locations | ❌ Often follows A’s leads |
11 | Approach Toward Resigned Staff | ✅ Friendly to all, even those who resign (sometimes misunderstood or targeted for this) | ❌ Avoids resigned colleagues |
12 | Support from Managers | ❌ Works independently without managerial support | ✅ Supported by multiple managers; seen as a “favorite” |
13 | Promotion to Manager | ❌ Still not promoted after 6+ years | ✅ Promoted after just 1 year |
14 | Google Visibility Support | ✅ Google Local Guide (high-level badge); writes positive reviews that appear at the top of the review section, helping boost the company’s local SEO and visibility | ❌ No involvement in online visibility |
15 | Content Support (Blog/SEO) | ✅ Writes positive blog content to help increase company visibility on Google Search | ❌ No content contributions |
💥 What This Tells Us
Sample A brings experience, ideas, and responsibility. They manage real life, real work, and still show up with energy. But their contributions are either ignored or used by others—while Sample B gets noticed, supported, and promoted.
It's not just unfair. It's a systemic blind spot—rewarding image over effort, visibility over value.
❗️Hard Questions That Must Be Asked
Are we unknowingly punishing loyalty and rewarding favoritism?
Do we value presentation more than real contribution?
How many team players are losing motivation because they’re always overlooked?
Sometimes, the person we should be promoting… is the one everyone assumes will always stay.
Before they stop trying—or leave completely.