Culture and tenure

Apple is turning 50 this year.

One of its employees – and only one – has remained on the payroll since 1976.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Chris Espinosa, Employee #8, shared that he could never be let go because his severance package would be too expensive for Apple.

I won’t suggest that Espinosa coasted at Apple for 50 years, confident that he couldn’t be let go. On the contrary, he made significant contributions over the decades. But his unique story should make us pause and ask “Why do some employees stay in our organization for so long?”

Find your long-tenured employees and ask them.

It might turn out to be your most actionable culture survey yet.