LOYALTY

I was employed and have been loyal for 30 years to my employer
Employers changed more then 8 times in the 30 years
Each manager employed when handing over after 2 to 5 years with the company 
Would advise the incoming manager of my loyalty to the company
Would also indicate how dedicated i am to the company 
Funny on salary increase days the loyalty and dedication would be overlooked,
The only percent i was worth, was so they can get a good rate on their KPI.
Then they would find a new company and leave me to wonder 
Even the owner every after 10 years would give me a piece of paper congratulating the years i have been with the company.
They will give me drinks, braai meat, some times invite my wife and kids.
I would spend my last bonus money buying my kids and wife cloths so they look presentable to the host.
At the fine line of the paper i received called certificate, they would be these words *Loyal servant/Employee for .... years*
Then i sat alone one day asked myself 
First day i got the job i promised to be Loyal 
Every manager said i was loyal but end up leaving the company
For another to acknowledge but not acknowledge that i was also worth being a manager 
What was the loyalty they were referring too, because they all left and i stayed?
Then i asked for  meeting with the owner.
I asked, does he value my loyalty?
Does loyalty mean less money?
Why did all the manager leave, whereas i stayed?
Who was loyal between me and the manager then?
Why was i never made a manager because every manager employed, i showed them of how the company operates?
I empowered them to be able to run the daily operation.
He tried to find answers but, they was never a right answer to what i asked
To a point that i pointed out to the big boss that, i have suffered for more then 25 years
While i have been empowering others to determine my worth 
Then i said, if he can be loyal to me and give me a chance to be the manager 

Umhlaziyi Ozimele 
Sandile Mngadi